Integrated near-field thermo-photovoltaics for heat recycling.

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 (P_gen ~ 1.25 μWcm^-2)

SUBMITTER: Bhatt GR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7242323 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature