{
  "abstract": "Photonic heat engines can achieve high conversion efficiencies, but their far-field power density is constrained by the blackbody limit. Near-field devices overcome this limitation through photon tunneling across a nanoscale vacuum gap; however, the mechanical spacers required to maintain this gap introduce parasitic heat conduction. We propose PETE (Photonic and Electronic Thermoelectric), a hybrid solid-state architecture in which thermoelectric generator (TEG) legs replace passive spacers. The legs simultaneously maintain the near-field gap and convert conducted heat into electricity. We evaluate PETE using an indium tin oxide emitter, an indium arsenide photovoltaic cell, and TaFeSb- and ZrNiSn-based Half-Heusler thermoelectric materials. At a hot-side temperature of 977K, the device achieves a power density of 18.6 W$\\cdot$cm$^{-2}$ at 19.76% efficiency. This power density is approximately twice that of either the standalone near-field thermophotovoltaic device or the standalone TEG, while the efficiency is 44% higher than that of the standalone TEG. The performance can be tuned through thermoelectric geometry and material selection, and its adaptability is demonstrated for a broad range of thermoelectric materials and operating temperatures. PETE provides a general strategy for recovering spacer-mediated heat leakage in near-field photonic heat engines.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2611.01644",
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Yasmine Ben Mechlia"
    },
    {
      "name": "Shuo Chen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Bo Zhao"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c0me9hjc2frw5.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2611.01644",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "c0me9hjc2frw5",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2611.01644",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "physics.optics"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2611.01644",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-11-01",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c0me9hjc2frw5.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-03T12:20:59Z",
      "native_id": "2611.01644",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2611.01644"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:physics.optics",
      "subfield": "optics-photonics"
    }
  ],
  "title": "PETE: A Hybrid Photonic and Electronic Thermoelectric Device for Direct Heat-to-Electricity Conversion",
  "title_text": "PETE: A Hybrid Photonic and Electronic Thermoelectric Device for Direct Heat-to-Electricity Conversion",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-05T15:20:18Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c0me9hjc2frw5",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}