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US 10,038,107 B2Granted
Enhanced photo-thermal energy conversion
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorMinas H. Tanielian
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Semiconducting quantum dots are applied to a fluid. The quantum dots are configured to absorb visible or near infrared light and re-radiate infrared energy that excites a fundamental vibration frequency of the fluid.
Claims5
A method of heating a fluid using quantum dots comprising:
- applying mercury telluride (HgTe) semiconducting quantum dots to the fluid, the fluid including water;
- illuminating the HgTe semiconducting quantum dots with visible or near infrared light to cause the HgTe semiconducting quantum dots to absorb the visible or near infrared light;
- allowing the HgTe semiconducting quantum dots to re-radiate infrared energy that corresponds to a fundamental vibration frequency of the fluid, the HgTe semiconducting quantum dots re-radiating infrared energy at a wavelength of about 3 microns;
- and
- using the infrared energy re-radiated by the HgTe semiconducting quantum dots to excite the fundamental vibration frequency of the fluid and heat the fluid.
2 more elements
A method of heating water using quantum dots comprising:
- applying mercury telluride (HgTe) semiconducting quantum dots to the water;
- illuminating the HgTe semiconducting quantum dots with visible or near infrared light to cause the HgTe semiconducting quantum dots to absorb the visible or near infrared light;
- allowing the HgTe semiconducting quantum dots to re-radiate infrared energy that corresponds to a fundamental vibration frequency of the water, the HgTe semiconducting quantum dots re-radiating infrared energy at a wavelength of about 3 microns;
- using the infrared energy re-radiated by the HgTe semiconducting quantum dots to excite the fundamental vibration frequency of the water and heat the water;
- and
- extracting work from the heated water.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.