Generating Electricity from the Sun: New Thermal Refractory Material Developed by Korean Scientists

Tuesday - February 6 2024, 22:44 UTC - 9 months ago

A research team at KIST has developed a new thermally refractory material, LBSO, that can withstand temperatures up to 1,000 degrees Celsius and intense ultraviolet light. This material has potential applications in thermophotovoltaic power generation, waste heat recycling, and other high-temperature environments. It allows for direct conversion of thermal radiation into electricity without an intermediary and could play a crucial role in addressing climate change and the energy crisis.

As the world moves towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, scientists are constantly searching for new and innovative ways to generate electricity. One promising area of research is using thermal radiation as an energy source, and a team of researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) has made a major breakthrough in this field.

Thermal radiation is the electromagnetic radiation emitted from matter with a temperature above absolute zero. In recent years, scientists have been looking to tap into this form of radiation as an energy source, with the potential to harness unused solar radiation and waste heat from industrial facilities. However, the biggest challenge has been finding materials that can withstand extreme temperatures and intense ultraviolet (UV) light, while maintaining their performance.

The KIST team, led by senior researcher Jongbum Kim, set out to address this challenge by developing a new thermally refractory material, lanthanum-doped barium stannate oxide (LBSO). Using a technique called pulsed laser deposition, the researchers were able to fabricate LBSO in nanoscale thin film form. This material has shown remarkable stability at temperatures up to 1,000 degrees Celsius and in intense UV light of 9 MW/cm2, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.

One of the most exciting potential uses of LBSO is in thermophotovoltaic (TPV) power generation. This involves using heat energy from sources such as the Sun or industrial processes to generate electricity using specialized photovoltaic (PV) cells. LBSO's unique properties allow for direct conversion of thermal radiation into electricity, without the need for any intermediary material. This not only increases efficiency but also prevents oxidation of the material when exposed to air.

The potential applications of LBSO extend beyond power generation, with the researchers also exploring its use in waste heat recycling and other high-temperature environments. Kim and his team are confident that their work will inspire further developments in the field and help accelerate the commercialization of thermoelectric power generation.

In a world facing a climate crisis and energy shortage, the development of stable, high-performance thermally refractory materials like LBSO is crucial. With this breakthrough, the KIST team has opened up new possibilities for clean and sustainable energy generation, and their work may have far-reaching impacts on the future of energy.