A thermophotovoltaic electric generator using GaSb cells with a hydrocarbon burner

New GaSb photovoltaic cells with infrared response extended out to 1.8 microns are well matched to hydrocarbon combustion heated silicon carbide infrared emitters operating at 1500 C. These continuous combustion thermophotovoltaic units run quietly and cleanly. Applications include small scale distributed cogeneration of heat and electricity and power units for clean electric vehicles. We report the fabrication of 1 cm/sup 2/ GaSb cells operating at 6 Amps and 2.6 Watts, 10 cell circuits operating at over 22 Watts, and a small demonstration generator producing enough power to operate a television.