Energy harvesting devices and methods are provided. An energy harvesting device includes an adsorption layer comprising a nanoporous material and at least two electrodes in operative arrangement with the adsorption layer. The nanoporous material comprises a nonbiological nanoporous material, a nonprotein biological nanoporous material, or a combination thereof. The adsorption layer and at least two electrodes are configured to generate a voltage differential on exposure of the adsorption layer to ambient moisture.

A thermoelectric conversion element includes: a thermoelectric conversion material portion composed of a material having a band gap; a first electrode disposed in contact with the thermoelectric conversion material portion; a second electrode disposed in contact with the thermoelectric conversion material portion and disposed to be separated from the first electrode; and a sealing portion that seals the thermoelectric conversion material portion. A partial pressure of oxygen in a region surrounding the thermoelectric conversion material portion is maintained by the sealing portion so as to be lower than a partial pressure of oxygen in an external air.

Described herein are devices incorporating Casimir cavities, which modify the quantum vacuum mode distribution within the cavities. The Casimir cavities can drive charge carriers from or to an electronic device disposed adjacent to or contiguous with the Casimir cavity by modifying the quantum vacuum mode distribution incident on one side of the electronic device to be different from the quantum vacuum mode distribution incident on the other side of the electronic device. The electronic device can exhibit a structure that permits transport or capture of hot carriers in very short time intervals, such as in 1 picosecond or less.

An electrode pair is provided including a first electrode and a second electrode. Each of the first electrode and the second electrode have an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end, a second end, and a lead extending outwardly from the first end. The lead has a first width at the first end. The second end of at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode have a recess formed therein having a first terminus and a second terminus. A second width extends between the first terminus and the second terminus of the recess. The recess is defined by a saw-tooth pattern. When the first electrode is positioned on the second electrode, the recess of the at least one of the first electrode is adjacent the lead of the other electrode.

An electrode pair is provided including a first electrode and a second electrode. Each of the first electrode and the second electrode have an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end, a second end, and a lead extending outwardly from the first end. The lead has a first width at the first end. The second end of at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode have a recess formed therein having a first terminus and a second terminus. A second width extends between the first terminus and the second terminus of the recess. The recess is defined by a saw-tooth pattern. When the first electrode is positioned on the second electrode, the recess of the at least one of the first electrode is adjacent the lead of the other electrode.

An artificial muscle includes an electrode pair including a first electrode and a second electrode. One or both of the first electrode and the second electrode includes a central opening. The first electrode and the second electrode each include two or more fan portions and two or more bridge portions. Each fan portion includes a first end having an inner length, a second end having an outer length, a first side edge extending from the second end, and a second side edge extending from the second end. The outer length is greater than the inner length. Each bridge portion interconnecting adjacent fan portions at the first end.

A magnetic field propulsion unit includes a magnetic field generating device with multiple conductive lines conduct a current to generate a magnetic field; a contact breaker arrangement individually transitions each of the multiple conductive lines from a conductive state to a non-conductive state; an energy supply unit provides the magnetic field generating device with electrical energy; and a control unit controls the energy supply unit so that energy supply to each individual conductive line is controlled and control the contact breaker arrangement. The multiple conductive lines are arranged along a longitudinal axis. The control unit supplies a first conductive line with electrical energy so that a first magnetic field surrounding the first conductive line is generated, transitions the first conductive line to a non-conductive state, and supplies a second conductive line with electrical energy so that a second magnetic field is generated.

A magnetic field propulsion unit includes a magnetic field generating device with multiple conductive lines conduct a current to generate a magnetic field; a contact breaker arrangement individually transitions each of the multiple conductive lines from a conductive state to a non-conductive state; an energy supply unit provides the magnetic field generating device with electrical energy; and a control unit controls the energy supply unit so that energy supply to each individual conductive line is controlled and control the contact breaker arrangement. The multiple conductive lines are arranged along a longitudinal axis. The control unit supplies a first conductive line with electrical energy so that a first magnetic field surrounding the first conductive line is generated, transitions the first conductive line to a non-conductive state, and supplies a second conductive line with electrical energy so that a second magnetic field is generated.

An electrode pair is provided including a first electrode and a second electrode. Each of the first electrode and the second electrode have an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end, a second end, and a lead extending outwardly from the first end. The lead has a first width at the first end. The second end of at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode have a recess formed therein having a first terminus and a second terminus. A second width extends between the first terminus and the second terminus of the recess. The recess is defined by a saw-tooth pattern. When the first electrode is positioned on the second electrode, the recess of the at least one of the first electrode is adjacent the lead of the other electrode.

An electrode pair is provided including a first electrode and a second electrode. Each of the first electrode and the second electrode have an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end, a second end, and a lead extending outwardly from the first end. The lead has a first width at the first end. The second end of at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode have a recess formed therein having a first terminus and a second terminus. A second width extends between the first terminus and the second terminus of the recess. The recess is defined by a saw-tooth pattern. When the first electrode is positioned on the second electrode, the recess of the at least one of the first electrode is adjacent the lead of the other electrode.