To help create a safer and less toxic energy storage alternative to batteries, a group of researchers at Rice University are actively exploring the development of a super-efficient storage technology that efficiently converts heat to electricity.
According to an article posted on the website of Interesting Engineering, the researchers are working to develop a high-efficiency thermal emitter, one that absorbs heat and converts that heat into electromagnetic radiation. The electromagnetic radiation is then captured by a photovoltaic cell to generate electricity.
The researchers say that the use of a thermal emitter can help to reduce energy loss during the conversion of heat to electricity, a critical limitation of current thermophotovoltaic (TPV) systems used for heat-to-electricity conversion.
The text of the article on turning heat into electricity is available on the Interesting Engineering website at https://interestingengineering.com/energy/quantum-inspired-tech-turns-heat-into-electricity-via-light.
