Zero-vacuum-gap thermophotovoltaics device

Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) energy conversion offers a promising approach for sustainable power generation, but achieving high power density remains challenging. We present the first experimental demonstration of zero-vacuum-gap TPV, a novel approach that eliminates the vacuum or gas-filled gap in conventional TPV systems by using a high-index, infrared-transparent, thermally insulating dielectric spacer. Our results show a two-fold increase in power density compared to standard far-field TPV, surpassing the blackbody limit and approaching near-field TPV performance without nanoscale gaps. This method balances scalability and high power density, making it a viable solution for waste heat recovery, solar TPV, and thermal energy storage. Our modeling suggests further enhancements exceeding an order of magnitude with optimized spacer materials.