Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Pfiester, Nicole A

Titel

Optimization of Metamaterial Selective Emitters for Use in Thermophotovoltaic Applications

Ort / Verlag

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses

Erscheinungsjahr

2015

Quelle

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses A&I

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• The increasing costs of fossil fuels, both financial and environmental, has motivated many to look into sustainable energy sources. Thermophotovoltaics (TPVs), specialized photovoltaic cells focused on the infrared range, offer an opportunity to achieve both primary energy capture, similar to traditional photovoltaics, as well as secondary energy capture in the form of waste heat. However, to become a feasible energy source, TPV systems must become more efficient. One way to do this is through the development of selective emitters tailored to the bandgap of the TPV diode in question. This thesis proposes the use of metamaterial emitters as an engineerable, highly selective emitter that can withstand the temperatures required to collect waste heat. Metamaterial devices made of platinum and a dielectric such as alumina or silicon nitride were initially designed and tested as perfect absorbers. High temperature robustness testing demonstrates the device’s ability to withstand the rigors of operating as a selective emitter.