US 11,901,473 B2
Thermophotovoltaic cells with integrated air-bridge for improved efficiency
Tobias Burger, Ann Arbor, MI (US); Byungjun Lee, Ann Arbor, MI (US); Dejiu Fan, Ann Arbor, MI (US); Andrej Lenert, Ann Arbor, MI (US); and Stephen R. Forrest, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Assigned to THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Filed by THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Filed on Apr. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/232,243.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/010,978, filed on Apr. 16, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0328087 A1, Oct. 21, 2021
Int. Cl. H01L 31/0735 (2012.01); H01L 31/0687 (2012.01); H01L 31/18 (2006.01); G03F 7/00 (2006.01); H01L 31/0232 (2014.01); H01L 31/0264 (2006.01); H01L 33/00 (2010.01); C30B 25/04 (2006.01); C30B 25/22 (2006.01); H01L 31/043 (2014.01)
CPC H01L 31/0687 (2013.01) [C30B 25/04 (2013.01); C30B 25/22 (2013.01); G03F 7/0005 (2013.01); H01L 31/0264 (2013.01); H01L 31/02327 (2013.01); H01L 31/043 (2014.12); H01L 31/0735 (2013.01); H01L 31/1852 (2013.01); H01L 31/1896 (2013.01); H01L 33/0093 (2020.05)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optoelectronic device, comprising:
a substrate;
a reflector disposed on the substrate; and
a thermophotovoltaic cell bonded to the reflector and configured to receive thermal radiation incident thereon, wherein the thermophotovoltaic cell is comprised of active device layers and a spacer layer, such that the spacer layer is positioned in between the reflector and the active device layers, and the spacer layer includes a cavity formed between the active device layers and the reflector, and the cavity in the spacer layer is filled with air, wherein the spacer layer and reflector operate to reflect photons having energy less than band gap of materials comprising the thermophotovoltaic cell.