Photonic Crystal Enabled Thermophotovoltaics for a Portable Microgenerator

[摘要] This work presents the design and characterization of a first-of-a-kind millimeter- scale thermophotovoltaic (TPV) system using a metallic microburner, photonic crystal emitter, and low-bandgap photovoltaic (PV) cells. In our TPV system, combustion heats the emitter to incandescence and the resulting thermal radiation is converted to electricity by the low bandgap PV cells. Our motivation is to harness the high specific energy of hydrocarbon fuels at the micro- and millimeter-scale in order to meet the increasing power demands of micro robotics and portable electronics. Our experimental demonstration lays the groundwork for developing a TPV microgenerator as a viable battery replacement.

[发布机构] Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge; MA; 02139, United States^1;Department of Electrical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge; MA; 02139, United States^2;Sensors and Electron Devices Dir., US Army Research Laboratory, 2800 Powder Mill Rd., Adelphi; MD; 20783, United States^3;Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge; MA; 02139, United States^4

[效力级别] 能源学

[关键词] Battery replacements;Combustion heat;Experimental demonstrations;Hydrocarbon fuel;Millimeter-scale;Portable electronics;Thermophotovoltaic systems;Thermophotovoltaics