STTR Phase I: Nanowire Thermophotovoltaic

小企业技术转移研究（STTR）第一阶段项目将研究一种将热量转化为电能的新方法。该装置被称为热光伏（TPV），在操作概念上类似于更广泛认可的太阳能电池（光伏）技术；然而，当太阳能电池将可见光（阳光）转换成可用的电能时，TPV将红外光（热）转换成可用的电能。除了在这个项目中使用的创新方法外，TPV将利用纳米技术实现。TPV发电是一种优雅而实用的替代能源发电。例如，TPV发电可以从工业废热中提供电能，这些废热消耗了大量由天然气、化石燃料和其他来源提供的能源。另一个应用是热电联产，举个简单的例子，燃烧煤炭、石油或木材产生的多余热量可以被回收利用，以增加结构的电力需求。此外，TPV发电机可以在需要的时间和地点供电。TPV技术具有重量轻、无机械部件、噪音低和多燃料能力等优点，可用于便携式、军用、空间/卫星和应急发电等领域。

The Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) Phase I project will investigate a novel approach for converting heat into electricity. The proposed device, known as a thermophotovoltaic (TPV), is similar in operational concept to the more widely recognized technology of solar cells (photovoltaics); however, while a solar cell converts visible light (sunlight) into usable electrical energy, a TPV converts infra-red radiation (heat) into usable electrical energy. Adding to the innovative approach being used in this project, the TPV will be enabled using nanotechnology. TPV generation of electricity is an elegant and practical alternative source of electrical energy generation. For example, TPV generation of electricity could supply electrical energy from industrial waste heat that consumes huge quantities of energy supplied by natural gas, fossil fuels, and other sources. Another application is co-generation, in a simple example, excess heat created from coal, oil, or wood being burned to heat a home could be recycled to augment the electrical needs of the structure. Further, TPV generators can be constructed to supply electricity when and where it is needed. TPV technology has advantages of low weight, no mechanical parts, low noise and multi-fuel capability that can be exploited in portable, military, space/satellite and emergency power generation applications.