Omni-directional, spectrally selective, wafer-scale fabricated metallic-dielectric 2-D photonic crystals for high temperature energy conversion

Abstract

Two-dimensional metallic-dielectric photonic crystals (MDPhCs) as spectrally selective absorbers and emitters are a promising technology for efficient heat-to-electricity energy conversion in solar thermophotovoltaic (STPV) systems [1]–[4]. Previously demonstrated metallic air photonic crystals (MAPhCs) are only able to absorb incident light at ±30° to normal, and had non-CMOS/MEMS compatible fabrication [5]. Here, we present a wafer-scale fabricated selective absorber and emitter which are stable at high temperatures (1,000°C), possess omni-directional absorption measured up to 70°, contain tunable spectral control of absorption, and are polarization insensitive.