Nanostructures and Metaphotonics for Thermophotovoltaic Generation of Electricity.
DeMeo, Dante.
2013
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Abstract: Thermophotovoltaics is an energy harvesting technology where
infrared light, commonly experienced as heat, is converted into electricity using the
photovoltaic effect. The three major components of a TPV device are a thermal emitter,
filter, and photodiode. This work seeks to improve upon this technology by addressing each
of these individual components. The emitter is improved upon ... read moreby using novel metamaterials
and designs to create a selective, and highly tunable, radiator. This work is the first to
test metamaterial emitters at high temperatures. The filter component is addressed by using
photonic crystals to create a tunable, front-side filter, which shows good selectivity and
light trapping abilities. The photodiode is explored twofold: First by using novel device
designs including strained-layer type-II superlattices and unipolar barrier diodes this
works shows that extending the operational wavelength of thermophotovoltaics is feasible,
opening up a new range of applications. This is accomplished primarily through simulation
of long-wavelength TPV devices. Secondly, interfacial misfit arrays have been investigated
towards the goal of replacing gallium antimonide as the requisite substrate with cheaper,
although lattice mismatched materials. By improving the subcomponents of a TPV device
individually, this work enables greater device and system efficiencies and paves the way
for a myriad of TPV devices and applications.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Tufts University, 2013.
Submitted to the Dept. of Electrical Engineering.
Advisor: Thomas Vandervelde.
Committee: Shuchin Aeron, Matthew Panzer, and Ganesh Balakrishnan.
Keyword: Electrical engineering.read less - ID:
- bz60d7657
- Component ID:
- tufts:21897
- To Cite:
- DCA Citation Guide EndNote
