We report on the enhancement of photon conversion by integration of photonic crystals into the thermophotovoltaic cell. To this end, photonic crystals consisting of rods of air are placed into the base semiconductor thermophotovoltaic cell to increase the duration of thermal photon absorption, resulting in significantly enhanced quantum efficiency and conversion efficiency. The use of photonic crystals in augmenting the conversion efficiency of thermophotovoltaic cells is applicable for most infrared wavelengths, making this a widely useful technology. The ability to harvest waste heat for energy will help make many processes and/or systems more energy efficient, which will be a critical component in ushering in an era of energy independence.
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