System and method for work function reduction and thermionic energy conversion
AssigneeSpark Thermionics, Inc.
InventorsJared William Schwede, Lucas Heinrich Hess
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Abstract
A thermionic energy converter, preferably including an anode and a cathode. An anode of a thermionic energy converter, preferably including an n-type semiconductor, one or more supplemental layers, and an electrical contact. A method for work function reduction and/or thermionic energy conversion, preferably including inputting thermal energy to a thermionic energy converter, illuminating an anode of the thermionic energy converter, thereby preferably reducing a work function of the anode, and extracting electrical power from the system.
Claims20
A method for operating a thermionic energy converter (TEC), the method comprising:
- reducing a work function of an anode of the TEC, comprising:
- illuminating the anode with a plurality of photons;
- and
- at an n-type semiconductor of the anode, absorbing the plurality of photons;
- and
- substantially concurrent with reducing the work function, generating a thermionic current, comprising:
- at a cathode of the TEC, thermionically emitting a plurality of electrons;
- at the anode, substantially concurrent with absorbing the plurality of photons, capturing the plurality of electrons;
- and
- at the anode, providing the plurality of electrons as electrical power;
- wherein the anode comprises:
- the n-type semiconductor;
- a work function reduction layer;
- and
- an intermediary layer arranged between the n-type semiconductor and the work function reduction layer.
A method for operating a thermionic energy converter (TEC), the method comprising:
- reducing a work function of an anode of the TEC, comprising:
- illuminating the anode with a plurality of photons;
- and
- at an n-type semiconductor of the anode, absorbing the plurality of photons;
- and
- substantially concurrent with reducing the work function, generating a thermionic current, comprising:
- at a cathode of the TEC, thermionically emitting a plurality of electrons;
- at the anode, substantially concurrent with absorbing the plurality of photons, capturing the plurality of electrons;
- and
- at the anode, providing the plurality of electrons as electrical power;
- wherein the anode comprises:
- the n-type semiconductor;
- an electrical contact;
- and
- a layer opposing the electrical contact across the n-type semiconductor, wherein the layer does not comprise an alkali metal and does not comprise an alkaline earth metal.
A thermionic energy converter (TEC) comprising:
- an anode comprising:
- an n-type semiconductor;
- a work function reduction layer;
- and
- an intermediary layer arranged between the n-type semiconductor and the work function reduction layer;
- a cathode, wherein the TEC defines a gap between the anode and the cathode;
- an enclosure isolating the gap from an ambient environment proximal the TEC;
- and
- an electrical load electrically coupling the cathode to the anode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.