Thermionic emission and energy conversion

Technical Report · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EDT 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1607933· OSTI ID:1607933

Rapp, Vi ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

This project worked on development of a transformative heat-to-electricity conversion device based on thermionic energy conversion. The research provided a unique opportunity to transform the thermionics technology of the 1950-1990s by applying modern materials and 21st century wafer-scale fabrication methods. Research was conducted to further development of a thermionic energy converter based on modern microfabrication and new low work function anode materials that can surpass all other forms of direct heat-to-electricity conversion. This project completed the following goals: (1) Developed components for use in thermionic energy converters and electron emission devices, including electrode materials for electron emission and electron absorption with ultimate work functions below 5 eV; (2) Designed and fabricated thermionic devices for energy conversion and electron emission based on the components developed in (1); (3) Engineered test systems to characterize electronic, thermal, and mechanical properties of thermionic devices and electron emitters and their components, and test devices and components designed and fabricated in (1) and (2); and (4) Developed theoretical modeling capabilities in support of these technical objectives.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Spark Thermionics, Inc., Emeryville, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 1607933
• Report Number(s): LBNL-CRADA--AWD00002381; LBNL--2001291
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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36 MATERIALS SCIENCE