Method and apparatus for a thermophotovoltaic cell
AssigneeAtrius Energy, Inc.
InventorMalcolm L. Brown
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present device is a thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cell adapted to charge the battery of an electronic device efficiently and cost-effectively. This is accomplished by specifically layering N-Type and P-type semiconductors in several layers while also introducing extrinsic doping agents that add to the conductivity of the oxides used for generating energy using ambient thermal energy. As such, electrical energy can effectively be drawn from a single heat reservoir.
Claims20
A thermophotovoltaic cell, comprising:
- a PN junction;
- a passivation layer;
- and
- a pair of opposing conductive current collectors;
- wherein said PN junction and said passivation layer are positioned between said pair of opposing conductive current collectors.
The thermophotovoltaic cell of claim 8, wherein said passivation layer further comprises an insulation tunnel junction comprising aluminum oxide having a junction depth of 10 nm.
A thermophotovoltaic cell, comprising:
- a PN junction;
- and
- a pair of opposing conductive current collectors;
- wherein said PN junction and said passivation layer are positioned between said pair of opposing conductive current collectors.
The method of manufacturing a thermophotovoltaic cell, the method comprising:
- placing a first substrate into a chamber;
- forming a passivation layer on said first substrate;
- forming a PN junction on said passivation layer;
- forming a second substrate on said PN junction;
- and
- annealing said first substrate, passivation layer, PN junction, and second substrate in a vacuum chamber filled with an inert gas;
- wherein said first substrate, passivation layer, PN junction, and second substrate form said thermophotovoltaic cell;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.