Researchers at Rice University have developed a groundbreaking technology that could make converting heat into electricity much more efficient.
This innovation focuses on improving thermophotovoltaic (TPV) systems, which turn heat into light and then into electricity.
By using ideas from quantum physics, engineer Gururaj Naik and his team designed a new thermal emitter that achieves over 60% efficiency while being practical for real-world use.
TPV systems have two main parts: photovoltaic (PV) cells, which convert light into electricity, and thermal emitters, which transform heat into light.
While PV cells have been the focus of most improvements, this research targets thermal emitters, unlocking new possibilities for efficient energy conversion.
Traditional thermal emitters often face a trade-off between performance and practicality. Naik and his team overcame this by rethinking the design.
They created an emitter made of a tungsten metal base, a thin spacer layer, and a network of tiny silicon nanocylinders. These nanocylinders interact with each other in a unique way, “plucking” photons one at a time from the heat generated in the tungsten layer.
This controlled emission of light boosts efficiency and allows for better energy conversion.
The study, published in npj Nanophotonics, shows how quantum physics insights helped optimize the interaction between the nanocylinders.
This selective photon control allows the system to operate at the limits of the materials’ properties, achieving remarkable efficiency. However, further improvements would require the discovery or creation of materials with even better properties.
This advancement could have significant benefits beyond just improving TPV systems. One major application is recapturing waste heat from industries like manufacturing and power plants, where 20-50% of heat is often lost.
In the U.S. alone, this wasted heat costs over $200 billion annually. By converting waste heat into electricity, this technology could make industries more sustainable.
The improved TPV systems could also play a key role in renewable energy, offering an alternative to batteries for large-scale energy storage. This makes it a valuable tool for transitioning to cleaner energy systems.
Additionally, the technology could be used in space exploration, where efficient power generation is critical for missions in extreme environments, such as Mars rover operations.
“This is an exciting step forward,” said Naik. “With the right PV cell and our new thermal emitter, we can create highly efficient systems for many applications, from reducing waste heat in industries to powering space missions.”
Source: Rice University.
