Heat To Electricity Conversion With Thermal Diodes

Thermal diodes are semiconductor devices with n*/p/n basic configuration. They show efficiencies that are multiples of substrate thermoelectric materials. MCT/InSb combinations demonstrated efficiencies in excess of 40% of ideal Carnot cycle. Current paper addresses switching to less exotic materials with enhanced thermal stability. Thermal diode principle of operation, multiple barrier approach, experimental and modeling data are presented.