InAs thermophotovoltaic cells with high quantum efficiency for waste heat recovery applications below 1000°C

InAs thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells with external quantum efficiency at the peak wavelengths reaching 71% at low temperature and 55% at room temperature are reported, which are the highest values to date for InAs. The TPV exhibited 10% power conversion efficiency at 100K cell temperature. The dark and light current-voltage characteristics were measured at different cell temperatures (100–340K) in response to heat sources in the range 500–800°C. The resulting dependences of the output voltage and current as well as the spectral response of the InAs TPV have been extensively characterized for waste heat recovery applications. The performance of these cells is strongly determined by the dark current which increases rapidly with increasing cell temperature originating from bandgap narrowing, which resulted in a reduction of open circuit voltage and output power. •71% and 55% external quantum efficiencies were measured at low temperature and 300K from the InAs TPV.•The InAs TPV achieved 10% power conversion efficiency at 100K with 800°C thermal sources.•The dependences of the device's electrical and spectral properties on cell temperatures were reported.•High dark current was identified as the main reason for the poorer performance at higher cell temperatures.