Nano-Scale Energy Conversion Device

Abstract

Embodiments relate to an apparatus for a nano-scale energy converter and an electric power generator. The apparatus includes two electrodes separated by a distance. The first electrode is manufactured to have a first work function value and the second electrode is manufactured to have a second work function value, with the first and second work function values being different. A cavity is formed by the distance between the first and second electrodes, and a nanofluid is disposed in the cavity. The nanofluid includes nanoparticles suspended in a dielectric medium. The nanoparticles have a third work function value that is greater than the first and second work function values. The relationship of the work function values of the nanoparticles to the work function values of the electrodes optimizes the transfer of electrons to the nanoparticles through Brownian motion and electron hopping.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first electrode having a first work function value;   a second electrode having a second work function value, the second work function value different from the first work function value, the second electrode positioned a distance from the first electrode;   a cavity formed between the first and second electrodes;   a dielectric medium disposed in the cavity; and   a plurality of nanoparticles suspended in the dielectric medium, wherein the plurality of nanoparticles have at least one third work function value greater than the first and second work function values.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first work function value is greater than the second work function value. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second work functions induce a contact potential difference between the first and second electrodes, wherein the at least one third work function value optimizes transfer of electrons from the first electrode to the second electrode via the plurality of nanoparticles. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first electrode is an emitter and the second electrode is a collector. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the dielectric medium and the suspended nanoparticles form a nanofluid. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising the distance between the first and second electrodes has a first range of at least 1 nanometer to less than 10 nanometers. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the dielectric medium and the suspended nanoparticles form a nanofluid. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising the first distance range to return a first thermal conductivity range of the nanofluid and a second distance range greater than 100 nanometers to return a second thermal conductivity range of the nanofluid, wherein the first thermal conductivity range is greater than the second thermal conductivity range. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein an increase of thermal conductivity of the nanofluid includes a phonon transfer selected from the group consisting of: between the plurality of nanoparticles within the nanofluid, between the plurality of nanoparticles and the first electrode, and between the plurality of nanoparticles and the second electrode. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein an increase of thermal conductivity of the nanofluid includes a nanoparticle characteristic selected from the group consisting of: at least a partial formation of nanoparticle matrices within the nanofluid, and a nanoparticle density of about one mole per liter. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising the first distance returns a first electrical conductivity range of the nanofluid and a second distance range greater than 100 nanometers returns a second electrical conductivity range of the nanofluid, wherein the first electrical conductivity range is greater than the second electrical conductivity range. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein electrical conductivity of the nanofluid within the first electrical conductivity range includes a nanoparticle collision characteristic, the characteristic selected from the group consisting of: between the plurality of nanoparticles within the nanofluid, between the plurality of nanoparticles and the first electrode, and between the plurality of nanoparticles and the second electrode. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein electrical conductivity of the nanofluid within the first electrical conductivity range includes a nanoparticle characteristic selected from the group consisting of: at least partial formation of nanoparticle matrices within the nanofluid, and a nanoparticle density of about one mole per liter. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the dielectric medium is selected from the group consisting of: alcohol and silicone oil. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least a portion of the suspended nanoparticles comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of: lead selenide telluride (PbSeTe) and lead telluride (PbTe), wherein the at least one material increases conversion of thermal energy to electrical energy. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising the at least one material comprising an n-type compound doped with a transition metal selected from the group consisting of: bismuth (Bi) and antimony (Sb), wherein the transition metal increases conversion of thermal energy to electrical energy. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the increased conversion of thermal energy to electrical energy comprises increasing the rate of transfer of electrons across the distance. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a first temperature range of the nanofluid for operation limited to thermionic conversion. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a second temperature range of the nanofluid different from the first temperature range of the nanofluid for operation including thermionic and thermoelectric conversion. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising control of the first and second temperature ranges of the nanofluid to modulate a power output.