Title: Surface tension mediated conversion of light to work

Abstract

Disclosed are a method and apparatus for converting light energy to mechanical energy by modification of surface tension on a supporting fluid. The apparatus comprises an object which may be formed as a composite object comprising a support matrix and a highly light absorptive material. The support matrix may comprise a silicon polymer. The highly light absorptive material may comprise vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VANTs) embedded in the support matrix. The composite object is supported on a fluid. By exposing the highly light absorptive material to light, heat is generated, which changes the surface tension of the composite object, causing it to move physically within the fluid.

Inventors:

Okawa, David; Pastine, Stefan J; Zettl, Alexander K; Frechet, Jean M. J

Issue Date:

2014-12-02

Research Org.:

Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1164706

Patent Number(s):

8899044

Application Number:

13/069,131

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B82 - NANOTECHNOLOGY B82Y - SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

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B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B82 - NANOTECHNOLOGY B82Y - SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES

B82Y30/00 - Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

Y02E10/46 - Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling solar thermal engines

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B82 - NANOTECHNOLOGY B82Y - SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES

B82Y15/00 - Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors

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DOE Contract Number:  

AC02-05CH11231

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 2011 Mar 22

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION; 14 SOLAR ENERGY; 77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY