Advancing photovoltaics and thermophotovoltaics with supradegeneracy

An ongoing challenge facing photovoltaics (PV) and thermophotovoltaics (TPV) is to improve the relatively poor efficiency with which they convert blackbody radiation into electricity. Analysis indicates that a recently proposed phenomenon from statistical mechanics – supradegeneracy – might boost this efficiency and increase system power densities. Supradegeneracy might also expand the palette of attractive PV/TPV materials, allow lower operating temperatures for TPVs, and thereby increase their robustness, reliability, and lifespan. Laboratory tests of the supradegeneracy concept have begun.