Spectrally selective thermal radiation based on intersubband transitions and photonic crystals

The spectrally selective coating technology which can be applicable for solar-thermophotovoltaic (solar-TPV) generation systems is described in this paper. In solar-TPV system, the spectrally selective absorber plays a key role to obtain high-efficiency. The technologies of controlling thermal radiation spectrum at temperature over 1000°C, however, have not been established yet. We focus on metal-dielectric multi-layer coating. This selective coating shows enormously high absorptance at short wavelength range and sharp cutoff property. Thermal stability test confirms that this multi-layer structure can be one of the candidates for the selective coatings for solar-TPV systems.

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On the Emission and Absorption of Thermal Radiation in Photonic Crystals

Frontiers in Optics ◽

10.1364/fio.2005.fwj3 ◽

2005 ◽

Author(s):

Marian Florescu ◽

Hwang Lee ◽

Jonathan P. Dowling

Keyword(s):

Photonic Crystals ◽

Thermal Radiation

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High-Efficiency Thermophotovoltaic System by Quasi-Monochromatic Thermal Radiation

Volume 1: Combined Energy Cycles, CHP, CCHP, and Smart Grids; Concentrating Solar Power, Solar Thermochemistry and Thermal Energy Storage; Geothermal, Ocean, and Emerging Energy Technologies; Hydrogen Energy Technologies; Low/Zero Emission Power Plants and Carbon Sequestration; Photovoltaics; Wind Energy Systems and Technologies ◽

10.1115/es2014-6743 ◽

2014 ◽

Author(s):

Asaka Kohiyama ◽

Makoto Shimizu ◽

Hiroaki Kobayashi ◽

Fumitada Iguchi ◽

Hiroo Yugami

Keyword(s):

Thermal Radiation ◽

Conversion Efficiency ◽

Spectral Response ◽

Detailed Balance ◽

Total Efficiency ◽

Emitter Temperature ◽

Selective Emitter ◽

Photovoltaic Conversion ◽

Spectrally Selective ◽

Photovoltaic Conversion Efficiency

Efficiency of solar-thermophotovoltaic (TPV) systems can be improved by controlling spectral property of thermal radiation to match the photovoltaic (PV) cells spectral response. We developed a spectrally selective emitter which can emit quasi-monochromatic thermal radiation to improve the efficiency of TPV systems. From the evaluation by the detailed-balance model for gallium antimonite (GaSb) TPV cells, the photovoltaic conversion efficiency over 50 % is achievable in the case of the emitter temperature over 1800K and emitter Q-value over 15. The numerical simulation based on Rigorous-Coupled Wave Analysis revealed that the quasi-monochromatic thermal radiation can be obtained by closed-end microcavity structure. A solar-TPV system equipped with a solar-simulator is fabricated to evaluate the effect of spectrally selective emitter. By using GaSb TPV cells and spectrally selective emitter based on dielectric layer coating, photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 26% and total efficiency of 7.7% are obtained at emitter temperature of 1654 K under 384 suns.

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A metal nanoparticle assembly with broadband absorption and suppressed thermal radiation for enhanced solar steam generation

Journal of Materials Chemistry A ◽

10.1039/d1ta01045j ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Dawei Ding ◽

Hu Wu ◽

Xiaoping He ◽

Fan Yang ◽

Chuanbo Gao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thermal Radiation ◽

Radiation Loss ◽

Metal Nanoparticle ◽

Nanoparticle Assembly ◽

Steam Generation ◽

Solar Absorption ◽

Broadband Absorption ◽

Nickel Nanoparticle ◽

Spectrally Selective ◽

Solar Steam Generation

The efficiency of solar steam generation is boosted by broadband solar absorption and suppressed thermal radiation loss of a nickel-nanoparticle-based spectrally selective absorber.

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