Selective emitters for thermophotovoltaics have been produced by vacuum plasma-spray coating of erbium doped garnet Er1.5Y1.5Al5O12 and Er2O3 on the intermetallic alloy MOSi2. The emitters are fully operable in an oxygen-containing atmosphere at a temperature of 1600 degrees C, are highly thermal-shock stable, and show good selective-emitting properties. The film thickness of the rare-earth oxide was varied between 200 and 600 mu m and an optimal thickness for maximum selectivity was found. Measurements with Si and GaSb photocells have been performed in order to evaluate the optimal combination emitter-photocell for real thermophotovoltaic systems. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.