Development of high performance emitters for TPV power generator using eutectic materials formed from amorphous materials

热光伏系统通过从加热的发射器向TPV电池施加红外辐射来发电。 发射器需要辐射波长为1-2微米的红外线。 以前的研究使用Al 2 O3-ER 2 O3（ER：稀土元素）共晶系统。 在这些系统中，当组成偏离共晶组成时，形成不均匀的初级晶体。 本研究成功地通过非晶材料的晶化来制备发射体。 这种方法能够形成两种成分均匀地相互缠结的结构，即使成分偏离共晶成分。 使用这种方法，可以减少昂贵的稀土，而不会降低发电性能。 虽然形成非晶材料的主要方法是快速淬火，但也开发了湿法。 这些方法可以高生产率地制备非晶材料。

Thermophotovoltaic system generates electricity by applying an infrared radiation from a heated emitter to TPV cell. Emitters are required to radiate infrared having wave lengths of 1-2 micro meters. Previous studies used Al2O3-ER2O3 (ER: rare earth elements) eutectic systems. In these systems, when the composition departs from the eutectic composition, inhomogeneous primary crystals form. This study succeeded to fabricate emitters by a crystallization of amorphous materials. This method enabled to form a structure in which two components homogeneously entangle each other, even when the composition departs from the eutectic composition. Using this method, expensive rare earth could be reduced without deteriorating the generation performance. While the main method to form amorphous materials was rapid quenching, wet methods were also developed. These methods could fabricate amorphous materials with high productivity.