Thermionic converters based on nanostructured carbon materials

Franz A.M. Koeck; Yunyu Wang; Robert J. Nemanich

doi:10.1063/1.2169241

Thermionic converters based on nanostructured carbon materials

Franz A.M. Koeck, Yunyu Wang, Robert J. Nemanich

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Thermionic energy converters are based on electron emission through thermal excitation and collection where the thermal energy is directly converted into electrical power. Conventional thermionic energy converters based on emission from planar metal emitters have been limited due to space charge. This paper presents a novel approach to thermionic energy conversion by focusing on nanostructured carbon materials, sulfur doped nanocrystalline diamond and carbon nanotube films as emitters. These materials exhibit intrinsic field enhancement which can be exploited in lowering the emission barrier, i.e. the effective work function. Moreover, emission from these materials is described in terms of emission sites as a result of a non-uniform spatial distribution of the field enhancement factor. This phenomenon can prove advantageous in a converter configuration to mitigate space charge effects by reducing the transit time of electrons in the gap due to an accelerated charge carrier transport.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	STAIF 2006
Subtitle of host publication	10th Conf. on Thermophysics Applic. in Micrograv.; 23rd Symp. on Space Nucl. Power and Propulsion; 4th Conf.on Human/Robotic Technol. and the Nat. Vission for Space Explor. on Space Colon.
Pages	607-613
Number of pages	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2169241
State	Published - Jan 20 2006
Externally published	Yes
Event	STAIF 2006: 10th Conf. on Thermophysics Applic. in Micrograv.; 23rd Symp. on Space Nucl. Power and Propulsion; 4th Conf. on Human/Robotic Technol. and the Nat. Vision for Space Explor.; 4th Symp. on Space Coloniz.; 3rd Symp.on New Front. and Future C - Albuquerque, NM, United States Duration: Feb 12 2006 → Feb 16 2006

Publication series

Name	AIP Conference Proceedings
Volume	813

Conference

Conference	STAIF 2006: 10th Conf. on Thermophysics Applic. in Micrograv.; 23rd Symp. on Space Nucl. Power and Propulsion; 4th Conf. on Human/Robotic Technol. and the Nat. Vision for Space Explor.; 4th Symp. on Space Coloniz.; 3rd Symp.on New Front. and Future C
Country/Territory	United States
City	Albuquerque, NM
Period	2/12/06 → 2/16/06

Keywords

CVD
Diamond
Doping
Electron emission
Energy conversion

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Physics and Astronomy

Access to Document

10.1063/1.2169241

Cite this

Koeck, F. A. M., Wang, Y., & Nemanich, R. J. (2006). Thermionic converters based on nanostructured carbon materials. In STAIF 2006: 10th Conf. on Thermophysics Applic. in Micrograv.; 23rd Symp. on Space Nucl. Power and Propulsion; 4th Conf.on Human/Robotic Technol. and the Nat. Vission for Space Explor. on Space Colon. (pp. 607-613). (AIP Conference Proceedings; Vol. 813). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2169241

Thermionic converters based on nanostructured carbon materials. / Koeck, Franz A.M.; Wang, Yunyu; Nemanich, Robert J.
STAIF 2006: 10th Conf. on Thermophysics Applic. in Micrograv.; 23rd Symp. on Space Nucl. Power and Propulsion; 4th Conf.on Human/Robotic Technol. and the Nat. Vission for Space Explor. on Space Colon.. 2006. p. 607-613 (AIP Conference Proceedings; Vol. 813).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Koeck, FAM, Wang, Y & Nemanich, RJ 2006, Thermionic converters based on nanostructured carbon materials. in STAIF 2006: 10th Conf. on Thermophysics Applic. in Micrograv.; 23rd Symp. on Space Nucl. Power and Propulsion; 4th Conf.on Human/Robotic Technol. and the Nat. Vission for Space Explor. on Space Colon.. AIP Conference Proceedings, vol. 813, pp. 607-613, STAIF 2006: 10th Conf. on Thermophysics Applic. in Micrograv.; 23rd Symp. on Space Nucl. Power and Propulsion; 4th Conf. on Human/Robotic Technol. and the Nat. Vision for Space Explor.; 4th Symp. on Space Coloniz.; 3rd Symp.on New Front. and Future C, Albuquerque, NM, United States, 2/12/06. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2169241

Koeck FAM, Wang Y, Nemanich RJ. Thermionic converters based on nanostructured carbon materials. In STAIF 2006: 10th Conf. on Thermophysics Applic. in Micrograv.; 23rd Symp. on Space Nucl. Power and Propulsion; 4th Conf.on Human/Robotic Technol. and the Nat. Vission for Space Explor. on Space Colon.. 2006. p. 607-613. (AIP Conference Proceedings). doi: 10.1063/1.2169241

Koeck, Franz A.M. ; Wang, Yunyu ; Nemanich, Robert J. / Thermionic converters based on nanostructured carbon materials. STAIF 2006: 10th Conf. on Thermophysics Applic. in Micrograv.; 23rd Symp. on Space Nucl. Power and Propulsion; 4th Conf.on Human/Robotic Technol. and the Nat. Vission for Space Explor. on Space Colon.. 2006. pp. 607-613 (AIP Conference Proceedings).

@inproceedings{f00424d72bbb4f4eada0cbf8d214bf0d,

title = "Thermionic converters based on nanostructured carbon materials",

abstract = "Thermionic energy converters are based on electron emission through thermal excitation and collection where the thermal energy is directly converted into electrical power. Conventional thermionic energy converters based on emission from planar metal emitters have been limited due to space charge. This paper presents a novel approach to thermionic energy conversion by focusing on nanostructured carbon materials, sulfur doped nanocrystalline diamond and carbon nanotube films as emitters. These materials exhibit intrinsic field enhancement which can be exploited in lowering the emission barrier, i.e. the effective work function. Moreover, emission from these materials is described in terms of emission sites as a result of a non-uniform spatial distribution of the field enhancement factor. This phenomenon can prove advantageous in a converter configuration to mitigate space charge effects by reducing the transit time of electrons in the gap due to an accelerated charge carrier transport.",

keywords = "CVD, Diamond, Doping, Electron emission, Energy conversion",

author = "Koeck, {Franz A.M.} and Yunyu Wang and Nemanich, {Robert J.}",

year = "2006",

month = jan,

day = "20",

doi = "10.1063/1.2169241",

language = "English (US)",

isbn = "0735403058",

series = "AIP Conference Proceedings",

pages = "607--613",

booktitle = "STAIF 2006",

note = "STAIF 2006: 10th Conf. on Thermophysics Applic. in Micrograv.; 23rd Symp. on Space Nucl. Power and Propulsion; 4th Conf. on Human/Robotic Technol. and the Nat. Vision for Space Explor.; 4th Symp. on Space Coloniz.; 3rd Symp.on New Front. and Future C ; Conference date: 12-02-2006 Through 16-02-2006",

}

TY - GEN

T1 - Thermionic converters based on nanostructured carbon materials

AU - Koeck, Franz A.M.

AU - Wang, Yunyu

AU - Nemanich, Robert J.

PY - 2006/1/20

Y1 - 2006/1/20

N2 - Thermionic energy converters are based on electron emission through thermal excitation and collection where the thermal energy is directly converted into electrical power. Conventional thermionic energy converters based on emission from planar metal emitters have been limited due to space charge. This paper presents a novel approach to thermionic energy conversion by focusing on nanostructured carbon materials, sulfur doped nanocrystalline diamond and carbon nanotube films as emitters. These materials exhibit intrinsic field enhancement which can be exploited in lowering the emission barrier, i.e. the effective work function. Moreover, emission from these materials is described in terms of emission sites as a result of a non-uniform spatial distribution of the field enhancement factor. This phenomenon can prove advantageous in a converter configuration to mitigate space charge effects by reducing the transit time of electrons in the gap due to an accelerated charge carrier transport.

AB - Thermionic energy converters are based on electron emission through thermal excitation and collection where the thermal energy is directly converted into electrical power. Conventional thermionic energy converters based on emission from planar metal emitters have been limited due to space charge. This paper presents a novel approach to thermionic energy conversion by focusing on nanostructured carbon materials, sulfur doped nanocrystalline diamond and carbon nanotube films as emitters. These materials exhibit intrinsic field enhancement which can be exploited in lowering the emission barrier, i.e. the effective work function. Moreover, emission from these materials is described in terms of emission sites as a result of a non-uniform spatial distribution of the field enhancement factor. This phenomenon can prove advantageous in a converter configuration to mitigate space charge effects by reducing the transit time of electrons in the gap due to an accelerated charge carrier transport.

KW - CVD

KW - Diamond

KW - Doping

KW - Electron emission

KW - Energy conversion

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33751228389&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33751228389&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1063/1.2169241

DO - 10.1063/1.2169241

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 0735403058

SN - 9780735403055

T3 - AIP Conference Proceedings

SP - 607

EP - 613

BT - STAIF 2006

T2 - STAIF 2006: 10th Conf. on Thermophysics Applic. in Micrograv.; 23rd Symp. on Space Nucl. Power and Propulsion; 4th Conf. on Human/Robotic Technol. and the Nat. Vision for Space Explor.; 4th Symp. on Space Coloniz.; 3rd Symp.on New Front. and Future C

Y2 - 12 February 2006 through 16 February 2006

ER -

Thermionic converters based on nanostructured carbon materials

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this