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Integrated near-field thermo-photovoltaics for heat recycling

Author

Listed:
  • Gaurang R. Bhatt

    (Columbia University)

  • Bo Zhao

    (Stanford University)

  • Samantha Roberts

    (Columbia University)

  • Ipshita Datta

    (Columbia University)

  • Aseema Mohanty

    (Columbia University)

  • Tong Lin

    (Columbia University)

  • Jean-Michel Hartmann

    (Université Grenoble Alpes, CEA, LETI)

  • Raphael St-Gelais

    (University of Ottawa)

  • Shanhui Fan

    (Stanford University)

  • Michal Lipson

    (Columbia University)

Abstract

Energy transferred via thermal radiation between two surfaces separated by nanometer distances can be much larger than the blackbody limit. However, realizing a scalable platform that utilizes this near-field energy exchange mechanism to generate electricity remains a challenge. Here, we present a fully integrated, reconfigurable and scalable platform operating in the near-field regime that performs controlled heat extraction and energy recycling. Our platform relies on an integrated nano-electromechanical system that enables precise positioning of a thermal emitter within nanometer distances from a room-temperature germanium photodetector to form a thermo-photovoltaic cell. We demonstrate over an order of magnitude enhancement of power generation (Pgen ~ 1.25 μWcm−2) in our thermo-photovoltaic cell by actively tuning the gap between a hot-emitter (TE ~ 880 K) and the cold photodetector (TD ~ 300 K) from ~ 500 nm down to ~ 100 nm. Our nano-electromechanical system consumes negligible tuning power (Pgen/PNEMS ~ 104) and relies on scalable silicon-based process technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Gaurang R. Bhatt & Bo Zhao & Samantha Roberts & Ipshita Datta & Aseema Mohanty & Tong Lin & Jean-Michel Hartmann & Raphael St-Gelais & Shanhui Fan & Michal Lipson, 2020. "Integrated near-field thermo-photovoltaics for heat recycling," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-16197-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16197-6
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    Cited by:

    1. Huang, Huadong & Shan, Shiquan & Zhou, Zhijun, 2022. "Parametric optimization of a novel solar concentrating photovoltaic-near field thermophotovoltaic hybrid system based on cascade utilization of full-spectrum solar energy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 1443-1454.

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