| AVS 57th International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Vacuum Technology | Tuesday Sessions |
| Session VT-TuP |
| Session: | Vacuum Technology Poster Session and Student Posters |
| Presenter: | D. DeMeo, Tufts University |
| Authors: | D. DeMeo, Tufts University T. Vandervelde, Tufts University |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
Thermophotovoltaics (TPV) are devices capable of converting infrared electromagnetic radiation into electricity. Strained Layer Superlattices allow TPV devices to operate at longer wavelengths. In order to determine the performance of these devices, a unique test apparatus was designed and constructed. As the devices become sensitive to longer wavelengths (lower temperatures) in the infrared, the need to control the sample's ambient temperature becomes paramount. Here, we present a custom, cryogenic vacuum chamber specifically designed to test long wavelength TPV cells. The tester utilizes two copper heat shields cooled via conduction with two liquid nitrogen reservoirs to block outside thermal radiation. A blackbody source illuminates a temperature controlled sample at high vacuum, ~10-6 Torr. The chamber is also connected to multiple thermocouples and a source-meter for measurement and testing purposes. This test apparatus will enable future research into low temperature TPV and other optoelectronic devices.