High-performance electroluminescent refrigeration enabled by photon tunneling. (August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Xianglei; Zhang, Zhuomin M.
• Is Part Of: Nano energy. Volume 26(2016:Aug.)
• Page Start: 353
• Page End: 359
• Publication Date: 2016-08
• Subjects: Electroluminescent refrigeration -- Evanescent waves -- Near-field radiation -- Photon chemical potential -- Photon tunneling; Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanostructured materials -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Nanoscience; Nanostructured materials; Nanotechnology; Power resources -- Technological innovations; Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2016.05.049
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2211-2855

Abstract

Abstract: Electroluminescent refrigeration, though theoretically proposed half a century ago, is rarely reported due to the requirement of extremely low nonidealities. Here, we theoretically show that by operating the device in the near-field regime with a vacuum gap down to 10 nm, photon tunneling through evanescent waves can increase the tolerance of non-intrinsic nonradiative recombination to 31.6%. More importantly, the refrigeration rate may be enhanced by 2000-fold over the far-field scenario. In addition, the lowest achievable cooling temperature against the ambient condition of 300 K extends from 284.2 K to 270.6 K. A self-consisted model based on the fluctuation-dissipation theory combined with dyadic Green's function method is developed considering the effect of the chemical potential of photons on the energy of Planck's quantum oscillators. This work opens a route to greatly enhance electroluminescent refrigeration, while relieving the strict material's requirement, for solid-state noncontact thermal management. Graphical abstract: Highlights: A self-consisted near-field electroluminescent refrigeration model is proposed. Refrigeration rate is enhanced by more than three orders of magnitude at 10 nm. The achievable cooling temperature is lowered to about 30 K below the ambient. The tolerance of nonintrinsic nonradiative recombination is extended to 31.6%.