Electric Power Source Employing Field Emission

Abstract

An electric power source in which an electron collector and an electron emitter, having a higher work function than the electron collector, are connected peripherally by a wire and placed very close together. An electric potential difference develops between the electron collector and the electron emitter as electrons spontaneously flow through the wire from the electron collector to the electron emitter due to the difference in work functions. With the electron collector and electron emitter positioned extremely close together, the small electric potential difference creates a strong electric field. The strong electric field allows field emission of electrons from the electron emitter. The emitted electrons then cross the small gap to the electron collector, completing the electric circuit, allowing a continuous electric current to flow, making this device an electric power source.

Claims

1. A device for producing electrical energy, comprising; a. an electron collector, b. an electron emitter composed of or being coated with a material having a substantially higher work function than the material that the electron collector is composed of or coated with, placed substantially close to the electron collector, c. an electric current carrying means which is in electrical contact with the electron emitter and the electron collector, whereby electrons in the electron collector, driven by a voltage caused by the difference in work functions between the electron emitter and the electron collector, travel through the electric current carrier into the electron emitter creating an electric potential difference between the electron emitter and the electron collector that brings about a substantially large electric field between the electron collector and the electron emitter, causing emission of electrons from the electron emitter, which then travel to the electron collector, completing an electric circuit, whereby electrical energy is provided to an electrical device connected somewhere along the electric circuit.

2. A device for producing electrical energy as in claim 1 in which two or more examples of the device of claim 1 are connected in parallel so as to increase the electric current produced.

3. A device for producing electrical energy as in claim 1 in which the electron emitter is shaped in such a way that the surface or surfaces of the electron emitter that are substantially close to the electron collector have a substantially small radius of curvature so as to substantially increase the electric field strength.

4. A device as in claim 3 in which the electron emitter having a substantially small radius of curvature is a narrow point.

5. A device as in claim 3 in which the electron emitter having a substantially small radius of curvature is a nanorod.

6. A device as in claim 3 in which the electron emitter having a substantially small radius of curvature is an edge formed as two surfaces come together at an angle.

7. A device for producing electrical energy as in claim 1 in which the substrate and supporting structure includes a material chosen from a dielectric, an electrical insulator, a ceramic, silicon oxide, silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, and aluminum oxide.

8. A device for producing electrical energy as in claim 1 in which the electron emitter or the surface of the electron emitter comprises carbon, carbon nitride, tungsten, tantalum, molybdenum, rhenium, osmium, platinum, nickel, silicon, doped silicon, or a mixture thereof.

9. A device for producing electrical energy as in claim 1 in which the electron collector or the surface of the electron collector comprises lanthanum, lanthanum hexaboride, cerium, cerium hexaboride, barium, barium carbonate, barium oxide, cesium, silicon, doped silicon, or a mixture thereof.

10. A device for producing electrical energy as in claim 1 in which the space between the electron emitter and electron collector is substantially in vacuum or at a substantially low pressure or comprises a material that allows electrons to travel substantially ballistically from electron emitter to electron collector.

11. A device for producing electrical energy as in claim 1 in which the heat source that allows electrons to move from a lower work function electron collector to a higher work function electron emitter is: the local environment, burning fossil fuels, solar, geothermal or nuclear.

12. A device for producing electrical energy as in claim 1 in which the energy source that allows electrons to move from a lower work function electron collector to a higher work function electron emitter is zero point energy.

13. A device for producing electrical energy as in claim 1 in which a source of heat is placed substantially near the electron emitter, whereby a substantially large number of electrons gain kinetic energy from the source of heat allowing a substantially larger number of electrons to be emitted from the electron emitter than if no source of heat were present.

14. A device for cooling, comprising; a. an electron collector, b. an electron emitter composed of or being coated with a material having a substantially higher work function than the material that the electron collector is composed of or coated with, placed substantially close to the electron collector, c. an electric current carrying means which is in electrical contact with the electron emitter and the electron collector, whereby electrons in the electron collector, driven by a voltage caused by the difference in work functions between the electron emitter and the electron collector, travel through the electric current carrier into the electron emitter creating an electric potential difference between the electron emitter and the electron collector that brings about a substantially large electric field between the electron collector and the electron emitter, causing emission of electrons from the electron emitter, which then travel to the electron collector, completing an electric circuit, whereby, the current of electrons flowing through the junction between the lower work function material and the higher work function material takes in heat at the junction between the two materials so that the electrons may have the required higher kinetic energy in order to enter the higher work function material causing cooling of the space substantially near the junction between the lower work function material and the higher work function material.

15. A device for cooling as in claim 14 in which the electron emitter is shaped in such a way that the surface or surfaces of the electron emitter that are substantially close to the electron collector have a substantially small radius of curvature so as to substantially increase the electric field strength.

16. A device as in claim 15 in which the electron emitter having a substantially small radius of curvature is a narrow point.

17. A device as in claim 15 in which the electron emitter having a substantially small radius of curvature is a nanorod.

18. A device as in claim 15 in which the electron emitter having a substantially small radius of curvature is an edge formed as two surfaces come together at an angle.

19. A device for cooling as in claim 14 in which the substrate and supporting structure includes a material chosen from a dielectric, an electrical insulator, a ceramic, silicon oxide, silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, and aluminum oxide.

20. A device for cooling as in claim 14 in which the electron emitter or the surface of the electron emitter comprises carbon, carbon nitride, tungsten, tantalum, molybdenum, rhenium, osmium, platinum, nickel, silicon, doped silicon, or a mixture thereof.

21. A device for cooling as in claim 14 in which the electron collector or the surface of the electron collector comprises lanthanum, lanthanum hexaboride, cerium, cerium hexaboride, barium, barium carbonate, barium oxide, cesium, silicon, doped silicon, or a mixture thereof.

22. A device for cooling as in claim 14 in which the space between the electron emitter and electron collector is substantially in vacuum or at a substantially low pressure or comprises a material that allows electrons to travel substantially ballistically from electron emitter to electron collector.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0036] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective drawing of an embodiment of the disclosure with flat, close spaced electron emitter and electron collector.

[0037] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic drawing of an embodiment of the disclosure in which the electron emitter has a sharp point.

[0038] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic drawing of an embodiment of the disclosure in which the electron emitter is a nanorod.

[0039] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective drawing of an embodiment of the disclosure in which the electron emitter and the electron collector are in the shape of rectangular solids on a substrate.

[0040] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective drawing of an embodiment of the disclosure in which the electron emitter and the electron collector are in the shape of rectangular solids that are held above a substrate by spacers.

[0041] FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective drawing of an embodiment of the disclosure with a heat source.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

[0042] 11 electron emitter [0043] 12 electron collector [0044] 13 load resistance [0045] 14 emitter wire [0046] 15 collector wire [0047] 16 pointed electron emitter [0048] 17 pointed electron emitter base [0049] 18 nanotube emitter [0050] 19 nanotube emitter base [0051] 20 long electron emitter [0052] 21 long electron collector [0053] 22 substrate [0054] 23 raised electron emitter [0055] 24 raised electron collector [0056] 25 emitter spacer [0057] 26 collector spacer [0058] 27 heat source

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF FIGURES

[0059] FIG. 1 shows an electron emitter 11 facing an electron collector 12. The surface material of electron emitter 11 has a higher work function than the surface material of electron collector 12. Electron emitter 11 is connected by an emitter wire 14 to a load resistance 13. Load resistance 13 can be any device that requires electric power. Electron collector 12 is connected by a collector wire 15 to load resistance 13 resulting in an electrical connection between electron emitter 11 and electron collector 12. The electrical connection between electron emitter 11 and electron collector 12 allows electrons to spontaneously flow, due to the difference in work functions, from electron collector 12 to electron emitter 11 creating an electric field between electron emitter 11 and electron collector 12. The electric field created between electron emitter 11 and electron collector 12 causes field emission of electrons from electron emitter 11. The emitted electrons cross the small vacuum gap to electron collector 12, completing the electric circuit. The complete circuit allows a continuous current to flow and provide electric power to load resistance 13.

[0060] FIG. 2 is a cutaway view that shows a pointed electron emitter 16 facing electron collector 12. Pointed electron emitter 16 is composed of a material that, at the surface of the sharp tip, has a higher work function than the surface material of electron collector 12. Pointed electron emitter 16 is held in place by a pointed electron emitter base 17. Pointed electron emitter base 17 is made of a material that will conduct electricity and is connected by emitter wire 14 to load resistance 13. Load resistance 13 can be any device that requires electric power. Electron collector 12 is connected by collector wire 15 to load resistance 13 resulting in an electrical connection between electron collector 12 and pointed electron emitter 16. The electrical connection between electron collector 12 and pointed electron emitter 16 allows electrons to spontaneously flow, due to the difference in work functions, from electron collector 12 to pointed electron emitter 16 creating an electric field between electron collector 12 and pointed electron emitter 16. The tip of pointed electron emitter 16 has a small radius of curvature which causes an enhancement of the electric field strength. The electric field strength at the tip of pointed electron emitter 16 would be greater than that at the flat emitting surface of electron emitter 11 of FIG. 1. The electric field created between pointed electron emitter 16 and electron collector 12 causes field emission of electrons from pointed electron emitter 16. The emitted electrons cross the small vacuum gap to electron collector 12, completing the electric circuit. The complete circuit allows a continuous current to flow and provides electric power to load resistance 13.

[0061] FIG. 3 is a cutaway view that shows a nanotube emitter 18 facing electron collector 12. Nanotube emitter 18 is composed of a material that has a higher work function than the material of electron collector 12. Nanotube emitter 18 is held in place by a nanotube emitter base 19. Nanotube emitter base 19 is composed of a material that will conduct electricity and is connected by emitter wire 14 to load resistance 13. Load resistance 13 can be any device that requires electric power. Electron collector 12 is connected by collector wire 15 to load resistance 13 resulting in an electrical connection between electron collector 12 and nanotube emitter 18. The electrical connection between electron collector 12 and nanotube 18 allows electrons to spontaneously flow, due to the difference in work functions, from electron collector 12 to nanotube emitter 18 creating an electric field between electron collector 12 and nanotube emitter 18. The tip of nanotube emitter 18 facing electron collector 12 has a small radius of curvature which causes an enhancement of the electric field strength. The electric field strength at the tip of nanotube emitter 18 would be greater than that at the flat emitting surface of electron emitter 11 of FIG. 1. The electric field created between nanotube emitter 18 and electron collector 12 causes field emission of electrons from nanotube emitter 18. The emitted electrons cross the small vacuum gap to electron collector 12, completing the electric circuit. The complete circuit allows a continuous current to flow and provides electric power to load resistance 13.

[0062] In FIG. 4, a long electron emitter 20 sits on a substrate 22. Substrate 22 is composed of an insulating material. A long electron collector 21 sits on substrate 22 and faces long electron emitter 20. Long electron emitter 20 is composed of a material that at has a higher work function at its surface than the material at the surface of long electron collector 21. Long electron emitter 20 is connected by emitter wire 14 to load resistance 13. Load resistance 13 can be any device that requires electric power. Long electron collector 21 is connected by collector wire 15 to load resistance 13 resulting in an electrical connection between long electron collector 21 and long electron emitter 20. The electrical connection between long electron collector 21 and long electron emitter 20 allows electrons to spontaneously flow, due to the difference in work functions, from long electron collector 21 to long electron emitter 20, creating an electric field between long electron collector 21 and long electron emitter 20. The edges of long electron emitter 20 have a small radius of curvature, which causes an enhancement of the electric field strength along the length of each edge of long electron emitter 20 with respect to the flat surfaces of long electron emitter 20. The electric field created between long electron emitter 20 and long electron collector 21 causes field emission, principally from the edges of long electron emitter 20. The emitted electrons cross the small vacuum gap to long electron collector 21, completing the electric circuit. The complete circuit allows a continuous current to flow and provides electric power to load resistance 13.

[0063] FIG. 5 shows an electric power source in which a raised electron emitter 23 faces a raised electron collector 24. Raised electron emitter 23 sits on an emitter spacer 25. Raised electron collector 24 sits on a collector spacer 26. Emitter spacer 25 and collector spacer 26 sit on substrate 22. Emitter spacer 25 and collector spacer 26 are composed of an insulating material. Substrate 22 is composed of an insulating material.

[0064] The surface of raised electron emitter 23 is composed of a material that has a higher work function than the material that composes the surface of raised electron collector 24. Raised electron emitter 23 is connected by emitter wire 14 to load resistance 13. Load resistance 13 can be any device that requires electric power. Raised electron collector 24 is connected by collector wire 15 to load resistance 13 resulting in an electrical connection between raised electron collector 24 and raised electron emitter 23. The electrical connection between raised electron collector 24 and raised electron emitter 23 allows electrons to spontaneously flow, due to the difference in work functions, from raised electron collector 24 to raised electron emitter 23, creating an electric field between raised electron collector 24 and raised electron emitter 23. The edges of raised electron emitter 23 have a small radius of curvature, which causes an enhancement of the electric field strength along the length of each edge of raised electron emitter 23 with respect to the flat surfaces of raised electron collector 23. The electric field created between raised electron emitter 23 and raised electron collector 24 causes field emission, principally from the edges of raised electron emitter 23. The emitted electrons cross the small vacuum gap to raised electron collector 24, completing the electric circuit. The complete circuit allows a continuous current to flow and provides electric power to load resistance 13.

[0065] FIG. 6 shows electron emitter 11 facing electron collector 12. The surface material of electron emitter 11 has a higher work function than the surface material of electron collector 12. A heat source 27 is positioned near electron emitter 11, raising the temperature of electron emitter 11. Electron emitter 11 is connected by emitter wire 14 to load resistance 13. Load resistance 13 can be any device that requires electric power. Electron collector 12 is connected by collector wire 15 to load resistance 13 resulting in an electrical connection between electron emitter 11 and electron collector 12. The electrical connection between electron emitter 11 and electron collector 12 allows electrons to spontaneously flow, due to the difference in work functions, from electron collector 12 to electron emitter 11 creating an electric field between electron emitter 11 and electron collector 12. The electric field created between electron emitter 11 and electron collector 12, aided by heat added to electron emitter 11 by heat source 27, causes field emission of electrons from electron emitter 11. The emitted electrons cross the small vacuum gap to electron collector 12, completing the electric circuit. The complete circuit allows a continuous current to flow and provide electric power to load resistance 13.