Scope and aim
This scientific school is part of an international drive to intensify research on thermophotovoltaic conversion. Typically, thermal radiation from a hot body at a temperature of between 700 and 2500 °C is converted into electricity by a photovoltaic cell operating in the infrared. The recent emergence of the thermophotovoltaic battery concept, based on the possibility of storing heat from various sources (industrial waste heat, concentrated solar energy, electrical energy from renewable energies during periods of low demand) at high volume density, presents the scientific community with numerous challenges, both theoretical and experimental, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary, involving fundamental physical processes and coupling issues that cut across the elements and scales of the conversion system.
The aim of the school is to train researchers and engineers concerned with the scientific problems posed by the conversion of thermal radiation into electricity. This training should help participants to better identify unresolved scientific questions, and thus guide their research, within the collaborative framework of growing national and international communities.
Program
- Introduction to thermophotovoltaic conversion [basics, TPV batteries, characterization,…] (6 hours 30 minutes)
- Converting primary energy into thermal energy and thermal energy storage (4 hours)
- Heat transfer [thermal radiation, properties at high temperature] (5 hours 30 minutes)
- Photovoltaic conversion [basics, fabrication, light trapping,…] (5 hours)
- Advanced concepts [near-field TPV, thermophotonics,…] (3 hours 30 minutes)
- Cross-disciplinary scientific issues [Life cycle analysis, multi-physics multi-scale modeling] (3 hours 30 minutes)
| morning | morning | afternoon | afternoon | evening | |
| Sunday, Oct. 13 | Introduction | ||||
| Monday, Oct.14 | Basics of thermal radiation | Basics of PV conversion | Introduction to TPV | TPV batteries | Poster session |
| Tuesday, Oct. 15 | Heat sources and generation | Detailed balance for TPV | Heat storage | Environmental aspects | Panel discussion (TPV batteries) |
| Wednesday, Oct. 16 | Properties at high temperature | Selective emitters | Panel discussion (heat sources) | ||
| Thursday, Oct. 17 | Fabricating PV cells | Photonics in PV cells | Near-field TPV | Characterization of TPV devices | Gala dinner |
| Friday, Oct. 18 | Multi-scale/physics modelling | Advanced concepts | Conclusion |
Confirmed lecturers
- P.-Olivier Chapuis, CETHIL, CNRS, France
- Alejandro Datas, Instituto de Energia Solar, UPM, Spain
- Amaury Delamarre, C2N, CNRS, France
- Jérémie Drevillon, Insitut Pprime, Univ Poitiers, France
- Olivier Farges, LEMTA, Univ Lorraine, France
- Mathieu Francoeur, Univ Utah, USA
- Yasmine Lalau, RAPSODEE, Mines Albi, France
- Esther Lopez, Instituto de Energia Solar, UPM, Spain
- Elyes Nefzaoui, ESYCOM, Univ Gustave Eiffel, France
- Xavier Py, LTeN, Univ Nantes, France
- Inès Revol, LAAS-CNRS, France
- Rodolphe Vaillon, LAAS-CNRS, France
- Alexis Vossier, PROMES, CNRS, France
- In progress…
Fees and registration
The registration fee covers accommodation (single bedroom*), all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), coffee breaks, and full access to the training sessions.
Registration opens on May 1st
Regisration closes on August 15th
| Category | Fee | Registration | Remark |
| Employed by CNRS | Free | Limited number!* | |
| Student (not employed by CNRS)**,*** | xxx € | Azur Colloque | By credit-card or order form |
| Academic (not employed by CNRS)*** | xxx € | Azur Colloque | By credit-card or order form |
| Non-academic*** | xxx € | Azur Colloque | By credit-card or order form |
Sponsors
 | CNRS Engineering, CNRS Chemistry, and CNRS Physics institutes (main sponsor for the CNRS employees) |
 | LAAS-CNRS (management staff and communication supports) |
Organizers
- Scientific and organizing committee: P.-Olivier Chapuis (CETHIL), Jérémi Dauchet (Institut Pascal), Jérémie Drevillon (Institut Pprime), Olivier Farges (LEMTA), Elyes Nefzaoui (ESYCOM), Xavier Py (LTeN), Inès Revol (LAAS-CNRS), Rodolphe Vaillon (LAAS-CNRS).
- Support: main contacts of the laboratories participating to the team-project TREE, Angèle Noguero & Véronique Cubaud (CNRS, DR14), Hélène Cluzel, Dominique Daurat, Justine Praneuf (LAAS-CNRS).
- Main contact: Rodolphe Vaillon, LAAS-CNRS, France
La Villa Clythia, Fréjus, France