AVS 53rd International Symposium
    Applied Surface Science Thursday Sessions
       Session AS-ThP

Paper AS-ThP29
Synthesis and Characterization of Erbia Doped Metal Oxide Nanofibers for Applications in Thermophotovoltaics

Thursday, November 16, 2006, 5:30 pm, Room 3rd Floor Lobby

Session: Aspects of Applied Surface Science Poster Session
Presenter: E.T. Bender, The University of Akron
Authors: E.T. Bender, The University of Akron
R. Wang, The University of Akron
M.T. Aljarrah, The University of Akron
E.A. Evans, The University of Akron
R.D. Ramsier, The University of Akron
Correspondent: Click to Email
We report on the synthesis, characterization, and near-infrared emission of erbia doped metal oxide nanofibers, for applications in thermophotovoltaics (TPV). Erbia emits radiation selectively in the 6000 to 7000 wavenumber region, which can be converted into electricity by appropriately chosen photocells. Thus, TPV technology enables the direct conversion of thermal energy to electrical energy, with no moving parts. Erbia can be used as a coating on a solid substrate such as metal or ceramic. However, the greybody radiation from the substrate will reduce the overall efficiency of the TPV system, and can lead to excessive heating in the photocell. We overcome this problem by doping metal oxide nanofibers, typically titania, with erbia via an electrospinning process. These doped fibers are characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The structure of the doped nanofiber mats is ideally suited for direct heating in gas-flow applications, such as exhaust systems. Near-IR emission measurements are carried out using a quartz tube, with the self supporting nanofibers heated by the exhaust from a propane flame. We therefore demonstrate the ability of these nanofibers to function in TPV gas flow applications.