System and Method for Converting Chemical Energy Into Electrical Energy Using Nano-Engineered Porous Network Materials

Abstract

An energy conversion device for conversion of chemical energy into electricity. The energy conversion device has a first and second electrode. A substrate is present that has a porous semiconductor or dielectric layer placed thereover. The porous semiconductor or dielectric layer can be a nano-engineered structure. A porous catalyst material is placed on at least a portion of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer such that at least some of the porous catalyst material enters the nano-engineered structure of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer, thereby forming an intertwining region.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An energy conversion device for conversion of chemical energy into electricity, comprising:
 a first electrode;   a substrate connected to said first electrode;   a three-dimensioned textured porous semiconductor layer disposed over said substrate, said three-dimensioned textured porous semiconductor layer having a nano-engineered structure;   a porous catalyst material on at least a portion of said three-dimensioned textured porous semiconductor layer, wherein at least some of the porous catalyst material enters the nano-engineered structure of the three-dimensioned textured porous semiconductor layer to form an intertwining region, the porous catalyst material and the three-dimensioned textured porous semiconductor layer forming solid-state junctions, wherein the solid-state junctions are Schottky junctions; and   a second electrode, wherein electrons from the porous catalyst material are injected into the three-dimensioned textured porous semiconductor layer, and wherein an electrical potential is formed between the first electrode and a second electrode during chemical reactions between a fuel, the porous catalyst material and the three-dimensioned textured porous semiconductor layer.   
     
     
         2 . The energy conversion device of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is patterned to create a three-dimensional surface, thereby providing increased surface area for chemical reactions. 
     
     
         3 . The energy conversion device of  claim 2 , wherein the substrate is patterned such that nano-wires are formed. 
     
     
         4 . The energy conversion device of  claim 2 , wherein the substrate is textured such that peaks and valleys are formed. 
     
     
         5 . The energy conversion device of  claim 1 , further comprising a non-porous semiconductor layer is in between the substrate and the three-dimensioned textured porous semiconductor layer 
     
     
         6 . The energy conversion device of  claim 1 , wherein the porous catalyst layer is formed with nano-particles. 
     
     
         7 . The energy conversion device of  claim 1 , wherein the porous catalyst layer is formed with nano-clusters. 
     
     
         8 . The energy conversion device of  claim 1 , wherein the porous catalyst layer is formed with nano-wires. 
     
     
         9 . The energy conversion device of  claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensioned textured porous semiconductor layer is formed with nano-particles. 
     
     
         10 . The energy conversion device of  claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensioned textured porous semiconductor layer is formed with nano-clusters. 
     
     
         11 . The energy conversion device of  claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensioned textured porous semiconductor layer is formed with nano-wires. 
     
     
         12 . The energy conversion device of  claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensioned textured porous semiconductor layer is a porous nano-engineered structure with percolating networks. 
     
     
         13 . The energy conversion device of  claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensioned textured porous semiconductor layer comprises a dielectric. 
     
     
         14 . The energy conversion device of  claim 13 , wherein the dielectric is a porous nano-engineered structure with percolating networks. 
     
     
         15 . The energy conversion device of  claim 13 , wherein the dielectric is formed with nano-particles. 
     
     
         16 . The energy conversion device of  claim 13 , wherein the dielectric is formed with nano-clusters. 
     
     
         17 . The energy conversion device of  claim 13 , wherein the dielectric is formed with the nano-wires. 
     
     
         18 . The energy conversion device of  claim 1 , where the three-dimensioned textured porous semiconductor layer are chosen from a group including rutile TiO2, anatase TiO2, poly-crystalline TiO2 porous TiO2, ZrO2, SrTiO3, BaTiO3, Sr_x-Ba_y-TiO_z, LiNiO, silicon, SiC, GaN, GaAs, Ge, silica, carbon, oxides of niobium, tantalum, zirconium, cerium, tin, vanadium, and LaSrVO 3 , and certain organic semiconductors, such as PTCDA, or 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylicacid-dianhydride. 
     
     
         19 . The energy conversation device of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel and the oxidizer comprise a monopropellant.