Nanodevices for generating power from molecules and batteryless sensing
A nanoconverter or nanosensor is disclosed capable of directly generating electricity through physisorption interactions with molecules that are dipole containing organic species in a molecule interaction zone. High surface-to-volume ratio semiconductor nanowires or nanotubes (such as ZnO, silicon, carbon, etc.) are grown either aligned or randomly-aligned on a substrate. Epoxy or other nonconductive polymers are used to seal portions of the nanowires or nanotubes to create molecule noninteraction zones. By correlating certain molecule species to voltages generated, a nanosensor may quickly identify which species is detected. Nanoconverters in a series parallel arrangement may be constructed in planar, stacked, or rolled arrays to supply power to nano- and micro-devices without use of external batteries. In some cases breath, from human or other life forms, contain sufficient molecules to power a nanoconverter. A membrane permeable to certain molecules around the molecule interaction zone increases specific molecule nanosensor selectivity response.
1. A method of constructing a nanoconverter, comprising:
providing a substrate;
growing one or more nanostructures on the substrate;
permeating the nanostructures with a sealant to form a molecule noninteraction zone around the nanostructures;
selectively etching the molecule noninteraction zone around the nanostructures to form a molecule interaction zone; and
electrically connecting the nanostructures at two ends, wherein the two ends have disposed between them the molecule interaction zone and the molecule noninteraction zone.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
exposing the molecule interaction zone to one or more molecules, thereby generating electrical power.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein within the molecule noninteraction zone the nanostructures are substantially incapable of interaction with molecules.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanostructures are selected from a group consisting of: a nanotube, a nanowire, a nanosheet, and a nanoribbon.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanostructures are selected from a group consisting of: a ZnO nanowire, a silicon nanowire, a carbon nanotube, and a semiconductor nanostructure.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the nanostructures are aligned or randomly aligned.
7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the nanostructures generate the electrical power through physisorption of the molecules onto the nanostructures.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the molecules originate from a source selected from a group consisting of: an exhalation, a gas, and a liquid.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the exhalation originates from a source selected from a group consisting of: human breath, non-human animal breath, bacterial outgas, and plant outgas.
10. The method of claim 2 , wherein the molecules are dipole containing organic species.
11. The method of claim 2 , wherein the molecules are selected from a group of dipole containing organic species consisting of: alcohols, amines, amides, carboxylic acids, esters, furans, pyridines, aldehydes, ketones, sulfoxides, carbohydrates, and similar or equivalent dipole containing species.
12. The method of claim 2 , wherein the molecules are selected from a group of molecules consisting of: methanol, ethanol, toluene, trichoromethane, n-butanol, 1-propanol, 1-octanol, tetrahydrofuran, pyridine, acetone, N,N-dimethyacetamide, N,N-dimethyformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, glucose, and their combinations.
13. The method of claim 2 , wherein the molecules are substantially polar.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the molecule noninteraction zone sealant is permeated by a sealant selected from the group of sealants consisting of: epoxy and poly(vinyl chloride-co-vinyl-co-2-hydroxypropyl acrylate) (PVC) polymer.
15. A method of constructing a nanoconverter, comprising:
(a) providing a nanostructure, comprising:
(i) a molecule interaction zone that interacts with molecules in a molecule interaction zone to generate power; and
(ii) a molecule noninteraction zone wherein molecules do not interact with the nanostructure;
(b) providing a permeable membrane, permeable to the molecule, that surrounds the molecule interaction zone;
(c) wherein the permeable membrane preferentially allows transmission of a specific molecule; and
(d) providing a sealant matrix that surrounds at least a portion of the nanostructure;
(e) wherein the surrounded portion of the nanostructure forms the molecule noninteraction zone.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the molecules are dipole containing organic species.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the molecules are selected from a group of dipole containing organic species consisting of: alcohols, amines, amides, carboxylic acids, esters, furans, pyridines, aldehydes, ketones, sulfoxides, carbohydrates, and similar or equivalent dipole containing species.