Thermophotovoltaic Materials, Methods of Deposition, and Devices

摘要

Novel materials, material deposition methods, and devices used to generate electrical power from thermal radiators based on thermophotovoltatic (TPV) operating principles using group IV-VI alloys and materials are disclosed. A semiconductor structure comprising (N) stacked junctions, each junction formed of a IV-VI semiconductor alloy and each of said N junctions having a bandgap, where N is an integer and N1 is disclosed. The semiconductor structure is configured to capture electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths from about 1 μm to about 7 μm. TPV devices comprising the novel semiconductor structure and methods of making the novel structures and devices are also disclosed.