Nano-scale energy conversion device
Embodiments relate to an apparatus for nano-scale energy converters and electric power generators. The apparatus include two electrodes with a cavity formed therebetween. The first electrode is an emitter electrode that includes a first base material with a first work function value. A second material is deposited on the first base material to modify the first work function value to a second work function value. The second electrode is a collector electrode that includes a second base material with a third work function value. A fourth material is deposited on the second base material to modify the third work function value to a fourth work function value. The emitter and collector electrodes are designed such that the second work function value is greater than the fourth work function value.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a first electrode comprising:
a first substrate comprising at least a first material, wherein the first material has a first work function value, the first material comprising tungsten (W); and
at least one second material, different from the first material, deposited over at least a first portion of the first material, the first electrode having a second work function value less than the first work function value, the second material comprising cesium oxide (Cs 2 O);
a second electrode positioned a distance from the first electrode, wherein the second electrode comprises:
a second substrate comprising at least one third material different from the first material and the second material, wherein the third material has a third work function value, the third material comprising gold (Au); and
at least one fourth material, different from the first and third materials, deposited over at least a second portion of the at least one third material, the second electrode having a fourth work function value less than the third work function value, the fourth material comprising Cs 2 O; and
a nanofluid between the first electrode and the second electrode, the nanofluid being adapted to transmit electrons between the first electrode and the second electrode.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the second material extends over more than 50% of a first surface of the first substrate; and
the fourth material extends over more than 50% of a second surface of the second substrate.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein:
the second material extends over at least 60% of the first surface of the first substrate.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein:
the fourth material extends over at least 60% of the second surface of the second substrate.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second material and the fourth material are formed from electrospray-depostied monodispersed droplets of Cs 2 O to provide covalently bonded Cs 2 O nanoparticles deposited over the first portion and the second portion, respectively.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second material comprises a fist Cs 2 O layer formed over the first portion and the fourth material comprises a second Cs 2 O layer formed over the second protion.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of dipoles formed on at least one of the first portion of the first Cs 2 O layer and the second portion of the second Cs 2 O layer, wherein the dipoles define nanoantennas.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the nanoantennas modify a proximate dipole moment.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the distance is in a range of 1 nanometer to less than 10 nanometers.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of the first and second electrodes comprising lead selenide telluride (PbSeTe) and/or lead telluride (PbTe), to increase conversion of thermal energy to electrical energy.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the PbSeTe and/or PbTe comprises an n-type compound doped with a transition metal comprising bismuth (Bi) or antimony (Sb), wherein the transition metal increases conversion of thermal energy to electrical energy.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the nanofluid comprises a dielectric medium and a plurality of nanoparticle clusters suspended in the dielectric medium.
13. An apparatus comprising:
a first electrode comprising:
a first electrode substrate comprising at least a first material, wherein the first material has a first work function value, the first material comprising tungsten (W); and
at least one second material, different from the first material, deposited over 50% to 70% of a first surface of the first electrode substrate, the first electrode having a second work function value less than the first work function value, the second material comprising cesium oxide (Cs 2 O); and
a second electrode positioned a distance from the first electrode, the second electrode comprising:
a second electrode substrate comprising at least one third material different from the first material and the second material, wherein the third material has a third work function value, the third material comprising gold (Au); and
at least one fourth material, different from the first and third materials, deposited over 50% to 70% of a second surface of the second electrode substrate, the second electrode having a fourth work function value less than the third work function value, the fourth material comprising Cs 2 O.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of nanoparticle clusters comprises gold nanoparticle clusters and silver nanoparticle clusters.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein:
the second material extends over 60% to 70% of the first surface of the first electrode substrate.
16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein:
the fourth material extends over 60% to 70% of the second surface of the second electrode substrate.
17. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the second material and the fourth material are formed from electrospray-deposited monodispersed droplets of Cs 2 O to provide covalently bonded Cs 2 O nanoparticles deposited over each of the first and second portions.
18. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the second material comprises a first Cs 2 O layer formed over the 50% to 70% of the first surface and the fourth material comprises a second Cs 2 O layer formed over the 50% to 70% of the second surface.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of dipoles formed on at least one of the first surface of the first Cs 2 O layer and the second surface of the second Cs 2 O layer, wherein the dipoles define nanoantennas.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the nanoantennas modify a proximate dipole moment.
21. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the distance is in a range of 1 nanometer to less than 10 nanometers.
22. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising at least one of the first and second electrodes comprising lead selenide telluride (PbSeTe) and/or lead telluride (PbTe) to increase conversion of thermal energy to electrical energy.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the PbSeTe and/or PbTe comprises an n-type compound doped with a transition metal comprising bismuth (Bi) or antimony (Sb), wherein the transition metal increases conversion of thermal energy to electrical energy.
24. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a nanofluid between the first electrode and the second electrode, the nanofluid being adapted to transmit electrons between the first electrode and the second electrode.
25. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the nanofluid comprises a dielectric medium and a plurality of nanoparticle clusters suspended in the dielectric medium.
26. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the plurality of nanoparticle clusters comprises gold nanoparticle clusters and silver nanoparticle clusters.
27. An apparatus comprising:
a first electrode comprising:
a first substrate comprising at least a first material, wherein the first material has a first work function value, the first material comprising tungsten (W); and
at least one second material, different from the first material, deposited over at least a first portion of the first material, the first electrode having a second work function value less than the first work function value, the second material comprising a first cesium oxide (Cs 2 O) layer; and
a second electrode positioned a distance from the first electrode, wherein the second electrode comprises:
a second substrate comprising at least one third material different from the first material and the second material, wherein the third material has a third work function value, the third material comprising gold (Au); and
at least one fourth material, different from the first and third materials, deposited over at least a second portion of the at least one third material, the second electrode having a fourth work function value less than the third work function value, the fourth material comprising a second Cs 2 O layer, a plurality of dipoles formed on at least one of a first surface of the first Cs 2 O layer and a second surface of the second CsO 2 layer, the dipoles defining nanoantennas.
28. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the nanoantennas modify a proximate dipole moment.
29. An apparatus comprising:
a first electrode comprising:
a first substrate comprising at least a first material, wherein the first material has a first work function value, the first material comprising tungsten (W); and
at least one second material, different from the first material, deposited over at least a first portion of the first material, the first electrode having a second work function value less than the first work function value, the second material comprising a first cesium oxide (Cs 2 O) layer; and
a second electrode positioned a distance from the first electrode, wherein the second electrode comprises:
a second substrate comprising at least one third material different from the first material and the second material, wherein the third material has a third work function value, the third material comprising gold (Au); and
at least one fourth material, different from the first and third materials, deposited over at least a second portion of the at least one third material, the second electrode having a fourth work function value less than the third work function value, the fourth material comprising a second Cs 2 O layer, at least one of the first and second electrodes comprising lead selenide telluride (PbSeTe) and/or lead telluride (PbTe) to increase conversion of thermal energy to electrical energy.
30. The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the PbSeTe and/or PbTe comprises an n-type compound doped with a transition metal comprising bismuth (Bi) or antimony (Sb), wherein the transition metal increases conversion of thermal energy to electrical energy.
31. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein increased conversion of thermal energy to electrical energy comprises increasing the rate of transfer of electrons across the distance.