Metal-oxide electron tunneling device for solar energy conversion

In an electron tunneling device including (i) first and second non-insulating layers spaced apart from one another such that a given voltage can be provided across the first and second non-insulating layers, and (ii) an arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between said first and second non-insulating layers, said arrangement including a first amorphous insulating layer, such that using only said first amorphous insulating layer in the arrangement would result in a given degree of nonlinearity in said transport of electrons between the first and second non-insulating layers, with respect to said given voltage, a method for increasing said nonlinearity in said transport of electrons, with respect to said given voltage, over and above said given degree of nonlinearity, said method comprising the steps of:

• positioning a different second insulating layer between said first and second non-insulating layers and directly adjacent to said first amorphous insulating layer and configuring said second insulating layer to cooperate with said first amorphous insulating layer such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of tunneling through said first amorphous insulating layer and said second insulating layer such that said nonlinearity is increased without the necessity for any additional layers.

A device for converting solar energy incident thereon into electrical energy, said device having an output and providing the electrical energy at the output, said device comprising:

• a) a first arrangement including first and second non-insulating layers spaced apart from one another and configured to form an antenna for receiving said solar energy incident thereon and for directing said solar energy to a specific location within said electron tunneling device;
• and
• b) at said specific location, a second arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between said first and second non-insulating layers, said second arrangement including
• i) a first amorphous insulating layer, and
• ii) a different, second insulating layer disposed directly adjacent to and configured to cooperate with said first amorphous insulating layer such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of tunneling through said first amorphous insulating layer and said second insulating layer, and such that the solar energy incident on said antenna, at least in part, is extractable as electrical energy at the output.

An electron tunneling device for converting input energy into output energy with a particular value of energy conversion efficiency, said electron tunneling device having an output and providing said output energy at said output, said electron tunneling device comprising:

• a) a first arrangement including first and second non-insulating layers spaced apart from one another and configured to receive said input energy;
• and
• b) a second arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between said first and second non-insulating layers, said second arrangement including
• i) a first amorphous insulating layer such that using only said first amorphous insulating layer in the arrangement would result in a given value of energy conversion efficiency, with respect to a given amount of input energy, and
• ii) a different, second insulating layer disposed directly adjacent to and configured to cooperate with said first amorphous insulating layer such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of tunneling through said first amorphous insulating layer and said second insulating layer, and such that said energy conversion efficiency, with respect to said given amount of input energy, is increased over and above said given value of energy conversion efficiency by the inclusion of said second insulating layer without the necessity for any additional layers.

A device for converting solar energy incident thereon into electrical energy, said device having an output and providing the electrical energy at the output, said device comprising:

• a) first and second electrically conductive layers spaced apart from one another and configured to form an antenna for receiving said solar energy incident thereon and for directing said solar energy to a specific location within said device;
• and
• b) at said specific location, an arrangement disposed between the first and second electrically conductive layers and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between said first and second electrically conductive layers, said arrangement including
• i) a first amorphous insulating layer, and
• ii) a different, second insulating layer disposed directly adjacent to said first amorphous insulating layer and configured to cooperate with said first amorphous insulating layer such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of tunneling through said first amorphous insulating layer and said second insulating layer, and such that the solar energy incident on the electrically conductive layers, at least in part, is extractable as electrical energy at the output.

A device for converting solar energy incident thereon into electrical energy, said device having an output and providing the electrical energy at the output, said device comprising:

• a) first and second electrically conductive layers spaced apart from one another and configured to receive said solar energy incident thereon;
• and
• b) an arrangement disposed between the first and second electrically conductive layers and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between said first and second electrically conductive layers, said arrangement including
• i) a first amorphous insulating layer such that using only said first amorphous insulating layer in the arrangement would result in a given value of solar energy conversion efficiency, with respect to a given amount of said solar energy incident thereon, and
• ii) a different, second insulating layer disposed adjacent to and configured to cooperate with said first amorphous insulating layer such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of tunneling through said first amorphous insulating layer and said second insulating layer, and such that the solar energy incident on the first and second electrically conductive layers, at least in part, is extractable as electrical energy at said output while said solar energy conversion efficiency, with respect to said given amount of said solar energy incident thereon, is increased over and above said given value of solar energy conversion efficiency by the inclusion of said second insulating layer without the necessity for any additional layers.

A method for converting solar energy into electrical energy and providing said electrical energy at an output, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing first and second non-insulating layers, which are spaced apart from one another such that a given voltage can be provided therebetween, and configuring said first and second non-insulating layers to form an antenna structure for receiving said solar energy incident thereon and for directing said solar energy to a specific location;
• b) at said specific location, positioning an arrangement between the non-insulating layers, said arrangement including a first amorphous insulating layer and a different, second insulating layer disposed directly adjacent to said first amorphous insulating layer;
• and
• c) configuring said arrangement to serve as a transport of electrons between said first and second non-insulating layers such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of tunneling, and such that the solar energy incident on the first and second non-insulating layers, at least in part, is extractable as electrical energy at said output.

An electron tunneling device comprising:

• a) first and second non-insulating layers spaced apart from one another such that a given voltage can be provided across the first and second non-insulating layers;
• and
• b) an arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between and to said first and second non-insulating layers, said arrangement including
• i) a first amorphous insulating layer configured such that using only said first amorphous insulating layer in the arrangement would result in a given value of asymmetry in said transport of electrons, with respect to said given voltage, and
• ii) a different, second insulating layer disposed directly adjacent to and configured to cooperate with said first amorphous insulating layer such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of tunneling through said first amorphous insulating layer and said second insulating layer, and such that said asymmetry, with respect to said given voltage, is increased over and above said given value of asymmetry by the inclusion of said second insulating layer without the necessity for any additional layers.

An electron tunneling device comprising:

• a) first and second non-insulating layers spaced apart from one another such that a given voltage can be provided across the first and second non-insulating layers;
• and
• b) an arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between and to said first and second non-insulating layers, said arrangement including
• i) a first amorphous insulating layer configured such that using only said first amorphous insulating layer in the arrangement would result in a given value of differential resistance in said transport of electrons, with respect to said given voltage, and
• ii) a different, second insulating layer disposed directly adjacent to and configured to cooperate with said first amorphous insulating layer such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of tunneling, and such that said differential resistance, with respect to said given voltage, is decreased below said given value of differential resistance by the inclusion of said second insulating layer without the necessity for any additional layers.

An electron tunneling device comprising:

• a) first and second non-insulating layers spaced apart from one another such that a given voltage can be provided across the first and second non-insulating layers;
• and
• b) an arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between said first and second non-insulating layers, said arrangement including
• i) a first amorphous insulating layer configured such that using only said first amorphous insulating layer in the arrangement would result in a given value of nonlinearity in said transport of electrons, with respect to said given voltage, and
• ii) a different, second insulating layer disposed directly adjacent to and configured to cooperate with said first amorphous insulating layer so as to provide a quantum well through which resonant tunneling occurs upon application of said given voltage across the first and second non-insulating layers such that the transport of electrons between and to said first and second non-insulating layers through said first amorphous insulating layer and said second insulating layer includes, at least in part, transport by means of resonant tunneling, and such that said nonlinearity, with respect to said given voltage, is increased over and above said given value of nonlinearity by the inclusion of said second insulating layer without the necessity for any additional layers.