DOE OSTI · 3009696
High-emissivity, thermally robust emitters for high power density thermophotovoltaics
Abstract
Thermal radiative energy transport is essential for high-temperature energy harvesting technologies, including thermophotovoltaics (TPVs) and grid-scale thermal energy storage. However, the inherently low emissivity of conventional high-temperature materials constrains radiative energy transfer, thereby limiting system performance and technoeconomic viability. Here, in this study, we demonstrate ultrafast femtosecond laser-material interactions to transform diverse materials into near-blackbody surfaces with broadband spectral emissivity above 0.96. This enhancement arises from hierarchically engineered light-trapping microstructures enriched with nanoscale features, effectively decoupling surface optical properties from bulk thermomechanical properties. These laser-blackened surfaces (LaBS) exhibit exceptional thermal stability, retaining high emissivity for over 100 h at temperatures exceeding 1,000°C, even in oxidizing environments. When applied as TPV thermal emitters, Ta LaBS double electrical power output from 2.19 to 4.10 W cm −2 at 2,200°C while sustaining TPV conversion efficiencies above 30%. This versatile, largely material-independent technique offers a scalable and economically viable pathway to enhance emissivity for advanced thermal energy applications.
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Park, Minok [Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); University of California, Berkeley, CA (United States); Kongju National University, Cheonan (Korea, Republic of)], Verma, Shomik [Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)], LaPotin, Alina [Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)], Nizamian, Dustin P. [Antora Energy, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (United States)], Prasher, Ravi [Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); University of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)], Henry, Asegun [Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)], Lubner, Sean D. [Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Boston University, MA (United States)], Grigoropoulos, Costas P. [Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); University of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)], Zorba, Vassilia [Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); University of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000334985314). 2025-06-27. High-emissivity, thermally robust emitters for high power density thermophotovoltaics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2025.102005
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