Light activated piezoelectric converter

A system for generating a voltage using a radiant flux comprising:

• a light activated piezoelectric converter, where the light activated piezoelectric converter comprises:
• a foundation;
• a vane comprising:
• a first section comprising a first surface between a proximate end of the first section and a distal end of the first section, where the proximate end of the first section is coupled to the foundation, and where the first surface has a first emissivity;
• and
• a second section comprising a second surface between a proximate end of the second section and a distal end of the second section, where the proximate end of the second section is coupled to the foundation, and where the second surface has a second emissivity, where the first emissivity minus the second emissivity is equal to at least 0.1, and where the second surface borders the first surface over a common boundary and the second surface is co-planer with the first surface over a portion of the common boundary;
• a piezoelectric material coupled to a single section of the vane, where the single section is either the first section of the vane or the second section of the vane;
• a first electrode in electrical contact with the piezoelectric material;
• and
• a second electrode in electrical contact with the piezoelectric material;
• an atmosphere surrounding the light activated piezoelectric converter;
• and
• the radiant flux impinging the first surface and the second surface, and the radiant flux generating a first temperature on the first surface and a second temperature on the second surface, where the first temperature is greater than the second temperature, and the first temperature and the second temperature generating a temperature gradient and generating a thermal creep force in a direction from the first surface to the second surface, and the thermal creep force generating a deflection of the vane, and the deflection of the vane generating a stress on the piezoelectric material and the stress on the piezoelectric material generating a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode.

A method of generating a voltage using a radiant flux comprising:

• surrounding a light activated piezoelectric converter with an atmosphere, where the light activated piezoelectric converter comprises:
• a foundation;
• a vane comprising:
• a first section comprising a first surface between a proximate end of the first section and a distal end of the first section, where the proximate end of the first section is coupled to the foundation, and where the first surface has a first emissivity;
• and
• a second section comprising a second surface between a proximate end of the second section and a distal end of the second section, where the proximate end of the second section is coupled to the foundation, and where the second surface has a second emissivity, where the first emissivity minus the second emissivity is equal to at least 0.1, and where the second surface borders the first surface over a common boundary and the second surface is co-planer with the first surface over a portion of the common boundary;
• a piezoelectric material coupled to a single section of the vane, where the single section is either the first section of the vane or the second section of the vane;
• a first electrode in electrical contact with the piezoelectric material;
• and
• a second electrode in electrical contact with the piezoelectric material
• directing the radiant flux toward the first surface and the second surface of the vane;
• generating a first temperature on the first surface and a second temperature on the second surface using the radiant flux, where the first temperature is greater than the second temperature, thereby generating a temperature gradient across the vane;
• establishing a thermal creep force from the first surface to the second surface using the temperature gradient and the gaseous atmosphere surrounding the vane where the thermal creep force is parallel to the first surface and parallel to the second surface;
• generating a deflection of the vane using the thermal creep force;
• generating a stress on the piezoelectric material using the deflection of the vane;
• and
• allowing the stress on the piezoelectric material to develop a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode in electrical contact with the piezoelectric material.