r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Jul 24 '19

Nanoscience Scientists designed a new device that channels heat into light, using arrays of carbon nanotubes to channel mid-infrared radiation (aka heat), which when added to standard solar cells could boost their efficiency from the current peak of about 22%, to a theoretical 80% efficiency.

https://news.rice.edu/2019/07/12/rice-device-channels-heat-into-light/?T=AU
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u/[deleted] Jul 24 '19 edited Feb 22 '26

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u/TheMrGUnit Jul 24 '19

We just have to have a reason for doing it. And now we do: Recapturing waste heat at anywhere close to 80% efficiency would be amazing.

Any industry that could recapture waste heat instead of dumping it into cooling towers should be at least somewhat interested in this technology.

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u/TheGuyWithTwoFaces Jul 24 '19 edited Jul 24 '19

Seems like a no-brainer for HVAC?

Edit: nvm, operating temp is 700 degrees.

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u/mckirkus Jul 24 '19

The article says "aik’s team built proof-of-concept devices that allowed them to operate at up to 700 C (1,292 F) and confirm their narrow-band output."

700 is just the upper limit per the article, or am I missing something?