Thermal radiation to electric energy conversion using silicon meta-materials based TPV systems

Introduction and context
According to recent studies [1], 90% of the world's energy consumption involves production or manipulation of heat over a wide temperature range. As a result, thermal energy and heat management is a central point in our energy production/consumption. Thermal energy can also be converted into other forms of energy such as electricity. It can be done by thermoelectric conversion, for example, but this requires maintaining a temperature difference between the two faces of a solid component. A promising alternative is thermophotovoltaic conversion (TPV) [2–6], which converts the radiative heat flux emitted by a hot body into electricity using a photovoltaic cell that operates in the infrared spectral range. Multiple sources of heat (thermal engines, industrial heat waste, solar heat, etc.) could be used for this purpose.

In the case of solar photovoltaics (PV), the radiation spectrum (sun radiation in this case) is given and cannot be controlled. It is the main source of efficiency limitations in PV since all radiation with energy smaller than the cell
bandgap is not converted into electricity and is lost. Contrarily, in TPV, it is possible to control, at least partially, the
radiative properties of the radiation source, to match the used TPV cell efficiency spectrum and improve the system overall efficiency by maximizing the part of thermal radiation with energy larger than the cell bandgap. Spectral radiation control is one of the key strategies to reach high efficiency TPV systems. Only a part of the emitted radiation (total black body radiation), with wavelengths shorterthan the gap wavelength, can be converted by a given PV or TPV cell. An optimal system therefore requires the concentration of the emitted radiation in the so-called "emission window"  which can be achieved using different IR photonics techniques for radiation spectral control.

Many IR meta-materials have been studied at ESYCOM Lab during the past decade to tune the spectral range of thermal radiative properties [10]. These materials can be tuned and used as selective emitters for high efficiency
TPV applications. This is the goal of the present project which will benefit from the laboratory expertise in such meta-materials fabrication to integrate them in a high efficiency TPV system.

Workplan:
This project aims to:

• Design and build an experimental setup for the characterization of far field TPV systems,
• Design, Optimize and Fabricate selective emitters for TPV based on the specifications of commercial TPV cells,
• Model the whole TPV system including the heat source, the selective emitter, the cavity and the cell to predict the system performances using specific emitter and cell,
• Integrate the fabricated selective emitters in the TPV system,
• Experimentally assess the performances of the whole system,
• Study the effect of operating conditions (temperature, time, aging) on the whole system performance.

More detailed version of the the description is available on : https://esycom.cnrs.fr/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Sujet-de-these-2025-Thermal-radiation-to-electric-energy-conversion-using-silicon-meta-materials-based-TPV-systems.pdf

References:
[1] A. Henry, R. Prasher, A. Majumdar, Five thermal energy grand challenges for decarbonization, Nat. Energy. 5 (2020) 635–637.
[2] R.E. Nelson, A brief history of thermophotovoltaic, Semicond. Sci. Technol. A. 18 (2003) 141.
[3] T.J. Coutts, An overview of thermophotovoltaic generation of electricity, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells. 66 (2001) 443–452.
[4] T.J. Coutts, Thermophotovoltaic principles, potential, and problems, AIP Conf. Proc. 404,. 404 (1997) 217–234.
[5] P.-O. CHAPUIS, C. LUCCHESI, R. VAILLON, THERMOPHOTOVOLTAÏQUE : DES CELLULES PV POUR CONVERTIR, Photoniques. 105 (2020) 37.
[6] T. Bauer, Thermophotovoltaics: basic principles and critical aspects of system design, Springer,2012.
[7] Y. Nishijima, H. Nishijima, S. Juodkazis, Black silicon as a highly efficient photo-thermal converter for snow/ice melting in early spring agriculture, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells. 217 (2020) 110706.
[8] C. Wu, C.H. Crouch, L. Zhao, J.E. Carey, R. Younkin, J.A. Levinson, E. Mazur, R.M. Farrell, P. Gothoskar, A. Karger, Near-unity below-band-gap absorption by microstructured silicon, Appl. Phys. Lett. 78 (2001) 1850–1852.
[9] L.L. Ma, Y.C. Zhou, N. Jiang, X. Lu, J. Shao, W. Lu, J. Ge, X.M. Ding, X.Y. Hou, Wide-band “black silicon” based on porous silicon, Appl. Phys. Lett. 88 (2006) 171907.
[10] Sarkar, S., Elsayed, A. A., Sabry, Y. M., Marty, F., Drévillon, J., Liu, X., ... & Bourouina, T. (2023). Black silicon revisited as an ultrabroadband perfect infrared absorber over 20 μm wavelength range. Advanced Photonics Research, 4(2), 2200223

The ESYCOM laboratory specializes in the engineering of communication systems, sensors and microsystems for
the city, the environment and the individual.
More specifically, the topics addressed are :
- antennas and propagation in complex environments, photonic - microwave components.
- microsystems for environmental analysis and depollution, for health and the interface with living organisms.
- micro-devices for recovering ambient mechanical, thermal or electromagnetic energy.

We are seeking candidates with an MSc in Engineering, specializing in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or solid-state physics. A strong background in heat transfer—particularly radiative heat transfer—physics of photovoltaic devices, micro- and nano-materials, and photonics is highly desirable. Candidates with a demonstrated interest in both experimental work and modeling are especially encouraged to apply. Proficiency in English is  essential. The ideal candidate will be self- motivated, scientifically curious, and possess excellent communication skills along with a strong ability to work collaboratively within a team.