Catalothermionic Solid State Electric Generator with Nonadiabatic Functionality

现有的可持续（非化石和非核）发电技术可以分为两大类。第一类包括利用机械能并将其转化为电力的系统和设备（风力、潮汐和地热涡轮机），第二类包括固态发电机，其设计目的是将太阳能、化学能和热能直接转化为电力，而不需要借助机械。这三个：燃料电池，太阳能电池和热电发电机一直是深入研究的主题。然而.太阳能电池的高成本和燃料电池有限的效率和寿命限制了它们的大规模应用。虽然热电发电机表现出更好的寿命，但它们不能提供令人满意的效率和能量密度，以便成功地与传统的便携式电源竞争。伊利诺伊大学芝加哥分校的PI Eduard Karpov提出了一个问题，在可持续能源研究中，是否还有其他被忽视的有用机制。Karpov提出了一种称为催化剂发生器的新设备，作为一种可能性。这些发电机将采用类似于太阳能电池的非绝热能量转换过程，但利用氢在设备表面催化氧化为水作为能源。催化反应导致催化金属-半导体纳米结构中的热电子的化学诱导激发，随后这些电子穿过金属纳米层并越过肖特基势垒的弹道传输。该催化剂离子发生器装置由作为阴极的钯金属纳米膜、作为阳极的n型半导体（例如SiC）以及欧姆背接触和外部电路组成，以输送电力来执行工作。在纳米膜处催化H2氧化反应以产生热电子。在工作的最后阶段，PI还计划演示反向系统。这是一个使用p型半导体材料，产生热空穴而不是热电子的项目。该项目探讨了新型高效化学驱动固态发电机的可能性和实际可行性。改进能源转换和输送方法的技术影响不言而喻。PI正在开放化学生物学领域，类似于光生物学。多相催化、表面科学、纳米材料和纳米催化研究以及可持续能源科学将受到影响。对于教育和推广方面，这是一个令人兴奋的项目，激励年轻的研究人员加入并追求项目和科学与工程。这也是一个可以翻译的，虽然不容易，成一个流行的版本，可能有助于教育更一般的大众在技术的限制，以及科学如何可以开发新的方法来开发解决方案。

1033290KarpovExisting sustainable (non-fossil and non-nuclear) technologies of electric power generation can be grouped into two broad categories. The first incorporates systems and devices for the utilization of mechanical energy and conversion into electricity (wind, tidal and geothermal turbines), and the second covers the solid state electric generators designed for the conversion of solar, chemical and thermal energy directly into electricity without resorting to mechanics. These three: fuel cells, solar cells and thermoelectric generators have been the subject of intensive research. However. the high cost of solar cells and limited efficiency and lifetime of fuel cells constrain their massive implementation. While the thermoelectric generators demonstrate better lifetimes, they do not provide satisfactory efficiency and energy density in order to successfully compete with the traditional portable sources of power. PI Eduard Karpov of the University of Illinois Chicago poses the question whether there are other useful mechanisms that have been overlooked thus far in sustainable energy research.Karpov proposes a new device called a catalothermionic generator as one such possibility. These generators will incorporate the nonadiabatic energy conversion processes similar to those in solar cells, but utilize catalytic oxidation of hydrogen to water on the device surface as the energy source. The catalytic reaction leads to the chemically induced excitation of hot electrons in the catalytic metal-semiconductor nanostructures, followed by the ballistic transport of these electrons across the metal nanolayer and over the Schottky barrier. The catalothermionic generator device is comprised of a nanofilm of palladium metal as cathode, an n-type semiconductor such as SiC as the anode and an ohmic back contact and external circuit to deliver electricity to perform the work. The reaction of H2 oxidation is catalyzed at the nanofilm to generate the hot electrons. In the final stages of the work, the PI plans to demonstrate the reverse system as well. This is one in which hot holes are generated instead of hot electrons, and a p-type semiconductor material is used.The project explores the possibility and practical feasibility of a novel type of higher efficiency, chemically driven solid state electric generators. The technical impact of an improved method of energy conversion and delivery is self-apparent. The PI is opening the area of chemovoltaics, analogous to photovoltaics. Impacts will be felt in heterogeneous catalysis, surface science, nanomaterial and nanocatalysis research and sustainable energy science. For the educational and outreach aspects, this is the sort of exciting project that inspires young investigators to join up and pursue the project and science and engineering. It is also one that can be translated, although not easily, into a popular version which might help educate the more general populace as to the limits in technologies, and how science can develop new approaches to developing solutions.