Novel Design for Monolithic Interconnected Modules (MIMS) for Thermophotovoltaic Power Conversion

The design for the fabrication of monolithically interconnected modules (MIMs) for thermophotovoltaic (TPV) power conversion described in this paper utilizes a novel, interdigitated contacting scheme that increases the flexibility in the size of the component cells, and hence, the output current and voltage of the module. This flexibility is gained at the expense of only minimally increased gridobscuration. Because the design uses the grid fingers of the component cells as the interconnect structure, the area of the device used for this purpose becomes negligible. In this paper, we report on the specifics of the design and on issues related to the fabrication of the modules. Preliminary performance data for representative modules are also offered.