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

热光伏系统通过将来自受热发射器的红外线辐射应用到TPV电池来发电。发射器需要辐射波长为1-2微米的红外线。以往的研究使用的是Al_2O_3-Er_2O_3(ER：稀土元素)共晶体系。在这些体系中，当成分偏离共晶成分时，就会形成不均匀的初晶。本研究成功地通过非晶态材料的晶化制备了发射体。这种方法能够形成其中两个组分彼此均匀缠绕的结构，即使当组合物脱离共晶组合物时也是如此。使用这种方法，可以在不影响发电性能的情况下降低昂贵的稀土。形成非晶态材料的主要方法是快速淬火，同时也发展了湿法。这些方法可以高生产率地制备非晶态材料。

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.