Thermophotovoltaic heat engines based on low band-gap environmentally friendly quantum dots

Research question

The main research question in this project is to investigate if it is possible to use quantum dots based on environmentally friendly materials, to convert heat losses into electricity in thermophotovoltaic heat engines. The overall goals of the project are to increase sustainability in industry and promote future utilization of the thermophotovoltaic heat engine in large-scale and low-cost energy storage based on thermophotovoltaic conversion. We will in this project develop new quantum dots for thermophotovoltaic heat engines and measure their properties and the efficiency for heat to electricity conversion. 

Sustainability aspects

Thermophotovoltaic heat engines may be used in different steps in steel production, or a foundry, to convert part of the heat losses to useful electricity. This would result in more sustainable industry and a reduction in overall energy consumption. In the long term, this will reduce CO2 emissions, and therefore reduce the impact on the climate due to these emissions. Additionally, utilization of the thermophotovoltaic heat engine in large-scale and low-cost energy storage based on thermophotovoltaic conversion can be advantageous in the electricity grid or other large-scale energy systems. It is of special interest for enabling significant integration of renewable energies.  Energy storage technologies based on thermophotovoltaic heat engines can be of interest to stabilize variations in power due to inconsistencies in the renewable energies and variations in local electricity systems with large changes of energy use, such as charging stations for large trucks and ships.