Assessing the Cost Effectiveness of Diagnostic and Prognostic Techniques

Not Available The IR Devices, Modules, and Materials Group at Structured Materials Industries (SMI) proposes the development of high efficiency tandem cells based on antimonide materials for thermophotovoltaic (TPV) applications. The structure of this device will be a dual-junction monolithic tandem cell. Working with Sarnoff Corporation, SMI has recently demonstrated a high-efficiency InGaAsSb TPV cell with a cut-off wavelength of 2.3 microns. This cell represents the state-of-the-art with internal quantum efficiencies over 90% at a peak wavelength of 2.0 microns. To significantly improve upon this device, a next generation of dual junction tandem TPV cells with conversion efficiencies in the range of 30 to 40% need to be developed. The innovation of the proposed program will be development of the first tandem cells for TPV applications that provide greater than 30% energy conversion efficiency. In the Phase I program, we will determine the most promising structure for a high-efficiency tandem TPV cell, building upon our existing InGaAsSb device for the bottom cell. Experimental work will utilize our existing epitaxial growth and processing technologies for fabricating these devices. When fully developed, this technology will result in a significantly higher performance, lower weight, cost-effective improvement for low temperature TPV generating systems.