System Including Thermal Energy Harvesting Thermionic Device and Appliance, and Related Methods

A system comprising:

• an appliance comprising a housing and a heat source contained within the housing, the heat source adapted to generate thermal energy;
• a thermal energy harvesting thermionic device positioned within the housing of the appliance, the thermal energy harvesting thermionic device to receive the thermal energy from the appliance and generate an electrical output, the thermal energy harvesting thermionic device comprising:
• a cathode;
• an anode spaced from the cathode;
• and
• a plurality of nanoparticles in a medium contained in the space between the cathode and the anode, the nanoparticles configured to permit electron transfer between the cathode and the anode;
• an electrical conductive path configured to transfer electrical output from the thermal energy harvesting thermionic device to the appliance for powering the appliance;
• a heat-dissipating device positioned to reduce a temperature of the electrical conductive path by thermal exchange.

A portable apparatus comprising:

• a portable housing comprising a body having at least one male electrical coupling member and at least one female electrical coupling member;
• an electrical energy storage device contained in the housing;
• a heat generating source contained in the housing and operatively connected to the electrical energy storage device to convert electrical energy supplied by the electrical energy storage device to heat;
• a thermal energy harvesting thermionic device contained in the housing proximal to the heat generating source to receive the heat from the heat generating source, the thermal energy harvesting thermionic device adapted to generate an electrical output, the thermal energy harvesting thermionic device comprising:
• a cathode;
• an anode spaced from the cathode;
• and
• a plurality of nanoparticles in a medium contained in the space between the cathode and the anode, the nanoparticles configured to permit electron transfer between the cathode and the anode.