Nano-Scale Energy Conversion Device

Abstract

Embodiments relate to an apparatus including a transport medium, a first surface, and a second surface. The transport medium includes a nanoparticle suspended in a dielectric, and has a first side and a second side. The first side opposes the second side. The nanoparticle includes a conductive metal at least partially covered by a monolayer film that is less conductive than the conductive metal. The first surface is disposed at the first side of the transport medium and has a first work function. The second surface is disposed at the second side of the transport medium and has a second work function. The first work function is lower than the second work function. In embodiments, the apparatus is configured to power a load coupled to the apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a transport medium comprising a nanoparticle suspended in a dielectric, the transport medium having a first side and a second side, the first side opposing the second side, the nanoparticle comprising a conductive metal, the conductive metal at least partially covered by a monolayer film, the monolayer film being less conductive than the conductive metal;   a first surface disposed at the first side of the transport medium, the first surface having a first work function; and   a second surface disposed at the second side of the transport medium, the second surface having a second work function,   wherein the first work function is lower than the second work function.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a nanoparticle work function is lower than the second work function. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the dielectric is a solution comprising silicone oil, water, hexane, toluene, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the monolayer film has a thickness of approximately 2 nanometers, and wherein the conductive metal of the nanoparticle comprises gold, silver, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle further comprises a core-shell nanoparticle, the core-shell nanoparticle including a conductive core and an insulative film. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface comprises a patterned surface feature. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface comprises a thermionic electron emissive material. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the thermionic electron emissive material comprises a cesium compound. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface comprises a semi-conductive material, the semi-conductive material being doped with antimony or bismuth. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface has covalent bonding in-plane and Van der Waals bonding out of plane. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a first end and a second end of the transport medium include a sealant and a standoff, and wherein the first surface comprises a monolayer having a monolayer surface thickness. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a first electrode having a first surface, the first surface having a first work function;   a second electrode having a second surface, the second surface having a second work function; and   a transport medium interposed between the first surface and the second surface, the transport medium comprising nanoparticles suspended in a dielectric,   wherein the first work function is lower than the second work function.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first surface comprises a thermionic electron emissive material. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the thermionic electron emissive material comprises a cesium compound. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the nanoparticles include a conductive metal, and wherein the first electrode comprises a semi-conductive material and the second electrode comprises Ti, Ni, Cu, Pd, Ag, Hf, W, Ir, Pt, Au, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a transport medium comprising a nanoparticle suspended in a dielectric, the transport medium having a first side and a second side, the first side opposing the second side, the nanoparticle comprising a conductive metal, the conductive metal at least partially covered by a monolayer film, the monolayer film being less conductive than the conductive metal;   a first surface disposed at the first side of the transport medium, the first surface having a first work function; and   a second surface disposed at the second side of the transport medium, the second surface having a second work function,   wherein the first work function is lower than the second work function, and   wherein the apparatus is configured to power a load coupled to the apparatus.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein a nanoparticle work function is lower than the second work function. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the dielectric is a solution comprising silicone oil, water, hexane, toluene, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the monolayer film has a thickness of approximately 2 nanometers, and wherein the conductive metal of the nanoparticle comprises gold, silver, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the nanoparticle further comprises a core-shell nanoparticle, the core-shell nanoparticle including a conductive core and an insulative film. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first surface comprises a patterned surface feature. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first surface comprises a thermionic electron emissive material. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the thermionic electron emissive material comprises a cesium compound. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first surface comprises a semi-conductive material, the semi-conductive material being doped with antimony or bismuth. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first surface has covalent bonding in-plane and Van der Waals bonding out of plane. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein a first end and a second end of the transport medium include a sealant and a standoff, and wherein the first surface comprises a monolayer having a monolayer surface thickness. 
     
     
         27 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a first electrode having a first surface, the first surface having a first work function;   a second electrode having a second surface, the second surface having a second work function; and   a transport medium interposed between the first surface and the second surface, the transport medium comprising nanoparticles suspended in a dielectric,   wherein the first work function is lower than the second work function, and   wherein the apparatus is configured to power a load coupled to the apparatus.   
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the first surface comprises a thermionic electron emissive material. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the thermionic electron emissive material comprises a cesium compound. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the nanoparticles include a conductive metal, and wherein the first electrode comprises a semi-conductive material and the second electrode comprises Ti, Ni, Cu, Pd, Ag, Hf, W, Ir, Pt, Au, or a combination thereof.