The thermoradiative diode is an optoelectronic device that generates electricity through the emission of radiant heat in the mid-infrared. The device can generate power from any warm surface, including the Sydney opera house roof radiating into the cold night sky - effectively solar power at night!
Today we can power a wristwatch, in the future thermoradiative power could deliver electrical power densities around one tenth of a PV solar panel.
The scientific research has been published in ACS Photonics and also received coverage in the popular press:
- "Night-time solar technology can now deliver power in the dark" UNSW Newsroom
- "Harnessing the Night Sky to Generate Electricity Can Complement Solar, Scientists Say" VICE
- "Australian researchers show solar power can be generated at night" ABC
- "Australian researchers crack ‘nighttime’ solar" PV Magazine
- "We Are A Step Closer To Nightime Solar Power" IFL Science