1. Emitter: A material heated to high temperatures, emitting thermal radiation. 2. Photonic Crystal: A nanostructured material that tailors the spectrum of emitted radiation to match the bandgap of the TPV cell. 3. Photovoltaic Cell: Converts the tailored thermal radiation into electrical energy.
When the emitter is heated, it radiates photons. The photonic crystal filters these photons, allowing only those with energies matching the bandgap of the photovoltaic cell to pass through. This tailored spectrum improves the efficiency of the conversion process.
