The device from the University of New South Wales research team uses a special semiconductor to collect infrared radiation emitted by the Earth and convert it into electricity.
The idea of generating electricity after sunset may seem impossible, but a team at the University of New South Wales has developed new technology to achieve this, Interesting Engineering reported on September 28. They have just tested the device on Earth and are planning to evaluate its usability in space. Their technology works on the principle of thermal radiation electricity production. The process exploits the temperature difference between the Earth’s surface and the coldness of space.
All objects, including Earth, emit infrared radiation. The newly developed device collects this emitted radiation and converts it into electricity. The key part of the device is the semiconductor part, specifically designed to take advantage of this radiant heat source. When the Earth emits infrared light, the semiconductor collects energy and produces electric current. By converting radiant heat into electricity, the device can essentially produce solar energy at night, according to lead researcher Ned Ekins-Daukes.
The semiconductor part is a type of diode that radiates heat, the researchers said. The materials used to make the device are similar to night vision devices. “Similar to how photovoltaic cells provide electricity by absorbing light emitted from the Sun, thermal radiation diodes generate electricity through emitting infrared light into colder environments,” said Dr. Phoebe Pearce, a team member. research and explanation. “In both cases, the temperature difference is what allows us to produce electricity.”
The performance of the new technology is currently quite low, but the research team is optimistic about future improvements. The amount of electricity collected is 100,000 times less than with photovoltaic cells, but this is proof of the device’s feasibility, according to Professor Ekins-Daukes. The research team predicts that their technology will have many diverse applications far beyond the limits of current energy sources, for example harnessing body heat to produce electricity.
On a larger scale, Ekins-Daukes and his colleagues are looking to adapt the technology for use on spacecraft. Satellites in low Earth orbit are often obscured, having to rely on their batteries while they sink into darkness. Thermal radiation diodes provide a potential solution to help produce electricity even when there is no sunlight. The research team plans to send thermal radiation diodes into space within the next two years. This breakthrough could pave the way for a future with renewable energy available 24/7.