NOVELTY - An electrical generator comprises: at least one photovoltaic element located to convert light produced on at least one emitting surface into electrical power; a heat exchanger; a catalytic converter (8); at least one sensor located to monitor the chemical reaction before the exhaust gases are communicated into the catalytic converter; and at least one sensor located to sense after the exhaust gases are communicated into the catalytic converter.    USE - As electrical generator for producing electricity (claimed), in internal combustion engines for automobiles.    ADVANTAGE - The electrical generator shows high conversion efficiency from chemical energy to electrical power; eliminates parasitic sources of heat loss; and reduces concentration of undesirable matter, such as compounds, in the exhaust from the combustion of a fuel with an oxidizer.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An electrical generator comprises: at least one photovoltaic element located to convert light produced on at least one emitting surface into electrical power, where the emitting surfaces are located in thermal communication with exhaust gases produced by an exothermic chemical reaction; a heat exchanger which takes at least a majority of thermal energy in the exhaust gases, after the thermal communication, and transfers the thermal energy to air before the air is input to the reaction; a catalytic converter (8) inside the heat exchanger, where the catalytic converter located to ensure that at least a majority of the exhaust gases are communicated into the catalytic converter and that heat generated by operation of the catalytic converter is transferred to the air before the air is input to the reaction; at least one sensor in the heat exchanger, located to monitor the chemical reaction before the exhaust gases are communicated into the catalytic converter; and at least one sensor, located to sense after the exhaust gases are communicated into the catalytic converter, whether the catalytic converter is functioning properly. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for a method of producing electricity by using an electrical generator while sensing whether a catalytic converter is properly functioning, involving: converting light produced on at least one emitting surface into electrical power by at least one photovoltaic element, where the emitting surfaces are located in thermal communication with exhaust gases produced by an exothermic chemical reaction; taking, by a heat exchanger, at least a majority of thermal energy in the exhaust gases after the thermal communication, and transferring, by the heat exchanger, the thermal energy to air before the air is input to the reaction; ensuring, with a catalytic converter inside the heat exchanger, that at least a majority of the exhaust gases are communicated into the catalytic converter and that heat generated by operation of the catalytic converter is transferred to the air before the air is input to the reaction; monitoring, with at least one sensor in the heat exchanger, where the chemical reaction before the exhaust gases are communicated into the catalytic converter; and sensing after the exhaust gases are communicated into the catalytic converter, with at least one sensor, whether the catalytic converter is functioning properly.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a schematic representation of a catalytic converter inside a container.    Container (2)    Engine exhaust (4)    Container exhaust (6)    Catalytic converter (8)    Flow restrictor (12)