# US 12,183,563 B2 · Electric power source employing field emission > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,183,563 B2 - Document ID: US12183563B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/699,764 - Filed: 2019-12-02 - Published: 2021-06-03 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-02 - Applicants: David Fitzgerald - Inventors: David Fitzgerald - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12183563B2 ## CPC - H01J 45/00: Discharge tubes functioning as thermionic generators {(structural combination of fuel element with thermoelectric element G21C3/40; nuclear power plants using thermionic converters G21D7/04; structural combination of a radioactive source with a thermionic converter, e.g. radioisotope batteries G21H1/10; generators in which thermal or kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy by ionisation of a fluid and removal of the charge therefrom H02N3/00)} - F25B 21/00: Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects - G21D 7/04: using thermoelectric elements {or thermoionic converters}(structural combination of fuel element with thermoelectric element {or with thermoionic converters} G21C3/40 {, G21H1/10}; thermoelectric elements per se H10N10/00, H10N15/00) - H02N 3/00: Generators in which thermal or kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy by ionisation of a fluid and removal of the charge therefrom (discharge tubes functioning as thermionic generators H01J45/00) - F25B 2321/001: by using electro-caloric effects - Y02E 30/00: Energy generation of nuclear origin - H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H) - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS - G21D: NUCLEAR POWER PLANT - H02N: ELECTRIC MACHINES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract An electric power source in which an electron collector and an electron emitter, having a higher work function than the electron collector, are connected peripherally by a wire and placed very close together. An electric potential difference develops between the electron collector and the electron emitter as electrons spontaneously flow through the wire from the electron collector to the electron emitter due to the difference in work functions. With the electron collector and electron emitter positioned extremely close together, the small electric potential difference creates a strong electric field. The strong electric field allows field emission of electrons from the electron emitter. The emitted electrons then cross the small gap to the electron collector, completing the electric circuit, allowing a continuous electric current to flow, making this device an electric power source. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for producing electrical energy comprising: (a) an electron emitter composed of or coated with a material having a first work function, the electron emitter having no heater thermally connected to the electron emitter; (b) an electron collector composed of or coated with a material having a second work function that is lower than the first work function, the electron collector being spaced from the electron emitter by a distance that reduces an emitter surface barrier sufficiently to allow electron field emission tunneling through the emitter surface barrier, the spaced distance being 100 nanometers or less; and (c) a load resistance conductively connected between the electron emitter and the electron collector. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A device for producing electrical energy according to claim 1 in which the electron emitter is shaped in such a way that a surface or surfaces of the electron emitter that are substantially close to the electron collector have a substantially small radius of curvature so as to substantially increase electric field strength at said surface or surfaces. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A device for producing electrical energy as in claim 2 in which the electron emitter having the substantially small radius of curvature is a narrow point. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A device for producing electrical energy as in claim 2 in which the electron emitter having the substantially small radius of curvature is a nanorod. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) A device for producing electrical energy as in claim 2 in which the electron emitter having the substantially small radius of curvature is an edge formed as two surfaces come together at an angle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A device for producing electrical energy as in claim 1 in which a substrate and supporting structure includes a material chosen from a dielectric, an electrical insulator, a ceramic, silicon oxide, silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, and aluminum oxide. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A device for producing electrical energy as in claim 1 in which the electron emitter or a surface of the electron emitter comprises carbon, carbon nitride, tungsten, tantalum, molybdenum, rhenium, osmium, platinum, nickel, silicon, doped silicon, or a mixture thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A device for producing electrical energy as in claim 1 in which the electron collector or a surface of the electron collector comprises lanthanum, lanthanum hexaboride, cerium, cerium hexaboride, barium, barium carbonate, barium oxide, cesium, silicon, doped silicon, or a mixture thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A device for producing electrical energy as in claim 1 in which a space between the electron emitter and the electron collector is at a substantially low pressure or comprises a material that allows electrons to travel substantially ballistically from the electron emitter to the electron collector. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A device for producing electrical energy as in claim 1 in which a heat source that allows electrons to move from a lower work function electron collector to a higher work function electron emitter is a local environment, burning fossil fuels, solar, geothermal or nuclear. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A device for producing electrical energy as in claim 1 in which an energy source that allows electrons to move from a lower work function electron collector to a higher work function electron emitter is zero point energy.