System for generating electricity by utilizing isothermal electrons and utilizing environmental heat energy to update energy

Abstract

Under the inspiration that protons localized through a liquid-membrane interface and electrostatically positioned can drive synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by isothermally utilizing environmental heat energy, the invention discloses an innovative energy updating system method for generating electricity by utilizing isothermal electrons. Comprising at least one pair of low work function hot electron emitters and high work function electron collectors spanning a barrier space mounted in a container equipped with an electrical conductor support, the functions of recovering energy and converting the energy into electric energy are achieved through isothermal electrons by means of environmental heat energy, and at least one of the following functions is included: a) energy updating is conducted through the environmental heat energy, so that waste heat energy completely dissipated in the environment is converted into useful energy, and the electric energy is generated to act as useful work; and b) environment heat energy is extracted from the interior of the refrigerator through isothermal electrons, and a novel cooling function is provided for the novel refrigerator while isothermal electron power is generated.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the invention patent application with application number 201980006695.5 filed on January 1, 2019, and invention name “Isothermal Electronics Utilizing Environmental Thermal Energy to Renew Energy for Power Generation”.

[0002] Cross-reference to related patent applications

[0003] This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 613,912, filed January 5, 2018. This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 237,681, filed January 1, 2019, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 202,214, filed July 5, 2016, and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 613,912, filed January 5, 2018. The entire disclosures of these patent applications are incorporated by reference into this patent application. Technical Field

[0004] The present invention relates to a series of systematic methods for creating and using asymmetric functional gated electrons to isothermally utilize ambient thermal energy to generate electricity and perform work. Background Art

[0005] In understanding proton-coupled bioenergetics, and in developing Peter Mitchell's Nobel Prize-winning chemiosmotic theory, the newly established hypothesis of localized proton electrostatics (Lee 2012 Bioenergetics 1:104; doi:10.4172 / 2167-7662.1000104; Lee 2015 Bioenergetics 4:121. doi:10.4172 / 2167-7662.1000121) has led to the following new equation for the proton motive force (pmf(Δp)), which may represent a major breakthrough in the field of bioenergetics:

[0006]

[0007] where Δψ is the potential difference across the membrane; R is the gas constant; T is the absolute temperature in Kelvin (K); F is the Faraday constant; and pH nB is the pH of the bulk liquid phase of the cytoplasm (negative n side); is the proton concentration in the periplasmic (positive p-side) liquid phase, for example in the case of alkaliphilic bacteria; C / S is the membrane specific capacitance (membrane capacitance per unit surface area), l is the thickness of the localized proton layer; K Pi is a proton cation (M i+ pB ) equilibrium constant for the exchange of localized protons; is the concentration of non-protonated cations in liquid culture medium (reference: Lee 2015 Bioenergetics 4:121. doi:10.4172 / 2167-7662.1000121).

[0008] The core concept of the proton electrostatic localization hypothesis is based on the premise that biologically associated water (such as water in bacteria) can function as a proton conductor, similar to an electrical conductor in electrostatics. This is consistent with the well-known knowledge that protons can be rapidly transferred between water molecules via a "hop and turn" mechanism. From a charge translocation perspective, it is noted that hydroxyl anions transfer in the opposite direction of proton conduction. This understanding suggests that the excess free protons in biologically associated water behave like electrons in an ideal conductor. For a charged conductor in static equilibrium, it is well known that all excess electrons are localized at the conductor's surface. This is expected, as electrons repel each other and, free to move, would diffuse to the surface. Similarly, it is reasonable to expect that the free excess protons (or, conversely, the excess hydroxyl anions) in biologically associated water would migrate to its surface. This view applies to excess free hydroxyl anions in the cytoplasm (generated by the transfer of protons across the cytoplasmic membrane into the extracellular liquid medium via a proton pump coupled to respiratory redox-driven electron transport), such as in the case of alkaliphilic bacteria, where they will be electrostatically localized along the water at the membrane-water (cytoplasm) interface on the negative (n) side of the cell membrane. In addition, their negative charge (OH – ) will attract positively charged protons (H + ) to the membrane-water interface on the positive (p) side of the periplasm.

[0009] That is, when excess hydroxide anions are generated in the cytoplasm by redox-driven proton pumps across the membrane, leaving excess protons outside the cell, the hydroxide anions in the cytoplasm will not remain in the bulk water phase due to their mutual repulsion. Therefore, they reach the water-membrane interface on the negative (n) side of the membrane cytoplasm and then attract excess protons in the periplasm on the positive (p) side of the cell membrane, forming an "excess anion-membrane-excess proton" capacitor-like system. Therefore, the proton capacitor concept is used to calculate the ideally localized effective proton concentration at the membrane-water interface in a pure water-membrane-water system. Assume that the thickness of the localized proton layer is (l). Determine the effective proton concentration in the localized proton layer using the following formula:

[0010]

[0011] where C / S is the membrane capacitance per unit surface area; F is the Faraday constant; κ is the dielectric constant of the membrane; ε ois the dielectric constant; d is the thickness of the membrane; and l is the thickness of the localized proton layer. This proton-capacitor equation [2a] is the basis for the revised proton motive force (pmf) equation [1], which includes an additional term to account for the effect of the exchange of non-protonated cations with localized protons.

[0012] By adjusting the arrangement of the proton capacitor Equation 2a, we can also calculate the desired localized excess proton density according to To solve the membrane potential difference Δψ. This includes the membrane capacitance characteristics such as membrane capacitance per unit surface area C / S to solve the membrane potential difference Δψ: Faraday constant F; membrane dielectric constant κ; dielectric constant ε o ; membrane thickness d and localized proton layer thickness l. Therefore, in the idealized pure water-membrane-water system, the membrane potential difference Δψ can now be expressed as the effective concentration of localized protons at the membrane-water interface in the idealized pure water-membrane-water system As shown in the following equation:

[0013]

[0014] From equation [2b], it is now clear that the accumulation of excess protons and the resulting ideal localized proton density Essentially, it establishes the membrane potential difference in the proton-coupled bioenergetic system.

[0015] Recently, nanoscale measurements using electrostatic force microscopy have determined the dielectric constant (κ) of lipid bilayer membranes to be approximately 3 units, which is within the expected range of 2 to 4 units (references: Grames et al., Biophysical Journal 104:1257–1262; Heimburg 2012, Biophysical Journal 103:918–929). Table 1 lists the calculated results for idealized localized protons in a pure water-membrane-water system. In Equation 2a, a lipid membrane dielectric constant (κ) of 3 units, a membrane thickness d of 4 nanometers (nm), a transmembrane potential difference Δψ of 180 millivolts (mV), and three assumed proton layer thicknesses of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 nm are used.

[0016] Table 1. Calculation of localized protons in an ideal pure water-membrane-water system using the proton capacitor equation 2a, assuming a membrane dielectric constant (κ) of 3, a membrane thickness d of 4 nanometers (nm), and a transmembrane potential difference Δψ of 180 millivolts (mV).

[0017]

[0018] As shown in Table 1, the ideal localized proton density per unit area is calculated to be 1.238 x 10 -8 moles H+ ) / square meter (m 2 If the thickness of the localized proton layer is approximately 1.0 ± 0.5 nanometers (nm), the ideal localized proton effective concentration is The calculated values ​​are in the range of 8.25 to 24.76 millimolar (mM). Assuming the ideal thickness of the localized proton layer is 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 nm, the calculated effective pH of the localized proton layer (pH L 0 ) are 1.61, 1.91, and 2.08. This calculation also suggests that in the case of possible industrial applications (such as acid etching of certain metals and / or protonation of certain micro / nanomaterials), localized excess protons may be generated at the water-film interface without the use of conventional acidic chemicals such as nitric acid and sulfuric acid.

[0019] International Patent Application Publication No. WO2017 / 007762A1 discloses a set of methods for generating localized, electrostatically localized excess protons. This proton technology can be used for clean, "green chemistry" industrial applications and, more importantly, as a specialized isothermal energy renewal process. It utilizes the electrostatically localized excess protons at the liquid-membrane interface to harness ambient heat to generate a localized proton motive force (equivalent to Gibbs free energy) to perform useful work, such as driving adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis. The discovery that localized, electrostatically localized protons can isothermally regenerate energy using ambient thermal energy, without being constrained by the second law of thermodynamics, has potentially groundbreaking scientific and practical implications for energy and environmental sustainability on Earth. Further development and extension of this fundamental scientific and engineering breakthrough to other areas, such as electron-based energy renewal systems, is urgently needed. Summary of the Invention

[0020] Inspired by recent scientific discoveries that electrostatically localized protons at liquid-membrane interfaces can be used to isothermally harness ambient thermal energy for useful work, such as driving adenosine triphosphate synthesis, the present invention discloses a series of methods for creating and using asymmetric functional gated isothermal electronic power generation systems that can be used to isothermally harness ambient thermal energy, also known as latent (existing hidden) thermal energy, for power generation without the use of conventional energy sources, such as high-temperature gradients. The methods and systems of the present invention provide a unique energy recovery and renewal technology for extracting ambient thermal energy, including molecular and / or electronic thermal motion energy, to utilize the current electromotive force generated by isothermal electrons to perform useful work, which may have significant scientific and practical significance for the sustainable development of energy and the environment on Earth.

[0021] The present invention particularly discloses an energy renewal method for generating isothermal electricity. The method manufactures and uses a special asymmetric function-gated isothermal electron power generation system, which includes at least one pair of low-work-function thermionic electron emitters and high-work-function electron collectors. The system is installed in a barrier space with an electrical conductor support container (such as a vacuum tube, bottle, or chamber) to achieve a series of energy recovery and conversion process functions, isothermally utilizing environmental thermal energy, and utilizing at least one of the following functional modes: a) utilizing environmental thermal energy to recover and regenerate waste heat energy completely dissipated from the environment, thereby generating electrical energy with output voltage and current to perform useful work; b) isothermal extraction of environmental thermal energy from the interior of a refrigerator by isothermal electrons while generating isothermal electricity, without requiring any conventional refrigeration mechanism compressor, condenser, evaporator, and / or radiator, thereby providing a novel cooling function and a new refrigerator / refrigerator; c) combinations thereof.

[0022] According to one exemplary embodiment, the present invention teaches the fabrication and use of an asymmetric functionally gated isothermal electron power generation system with a low work function (0.7 electron volts (eV)) silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitter and a high work function copper (Cu) metal (4.56 electron volts (eV)) collector. This isothermal electron power generation system is installed in a chamber-shaped vacuum tube and includes: a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film coated on the inner surface of the dome-shaped top end of the chamber-shaped vacuum tube, serving as the emitter; a vacuum space, allowing thermally emitted electrons to fly ballistically between the emitter and collector; a copper (Cu) film coated on the inner surface of the inverted dome-shaped bottom end of the cavity-shaped vacuum tube, serving as the collector (electrode); a first power outlet socket (e.g., wires and / or conductors) connected to the emitter (electrode); and a second power outlet socket connected to the collector.

[0023] According to one of the exemplary embodiments, the present invention teaches a method for making and using an integrated isothermal power generation system, wherein each of three pairs of emitters and collectors (electrodes) mounted vertically in a vacuum tube cavity has a narrow inter-electrode gap size, and the system comprises: a low work function film coated on the bottom surface of a first conductive plate to serve as a first emitter; a first narrow space to allow thermally emitted electrons to fly ballistically between the first pair of emitters and collectors; a high work function film coated on the top surface of a second conductor to serve as a first collecting electrode; a low work function film coated on the bottom surface of the second conductor to serve as a second emitter; a second narrow space allowing thermally emitted electrons to fly ballistically between the second pair of emitters and the collector; a high work function film coated on the top surface of the third electrical conductor to serve as a collecting electrode body; a low work function film coated on the bottom surface of the third electrical conductor to serve as a third emitter; a third narrow space allowing thermally emitted electrons to fly ballistically between the third pair of emitters and the collector; a high work function film coated on the top surface of the fourth electrical conductor to serve as a terminal collecting electrode; a first power outlet socket (wire) connected to the first electrical conductor plate and grounded; a second power outlet socket (wire) connected to the fourth electrical conductor.

[0024] According to one exemplary embodiment, the effect of asymmetric function-gated isothermal power generation is cumulative. Multiple asymmetric function-gated isothermal electronic generator systems can be used in parallel and / or in series. When multiple (n) asymmetric function-gated isothermal electronic generators are used in parallel, the total steady-state current (I st(total) ) is the steady-state current of the isothermal electron generator from each asymmetric functional gate (I st(i) ) is the sum of the total steady-state output voltage (V st(total) ) remains unchanged. In contrast, when multiple (n) asymmetric functional gated isothermal electronic generators are operated in series, the total steady-state output voltage (V st(total) ) is the steady-state output voltage (V st(i) ), and the total steady-state current (I st(total) ) remains unchanged.

[0025] According to one exemplary embodiment, the present invention teaches the manufacture and use of an integrated isothermal electron generator system, which uses three pairs of silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitters with an unusually low work function (0.5 electron volts (eV)) and gold (Au) metal with a high work function (5.10 electron volts (eV)) working in series as a current collector, including: a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film coated on the inner surface of the dome-shaped top of a vacuum tube cavity, serving as a first emitter with a power outlet; a gold (Au) film coated on the top surface of a first intermediate conductor to serve as a first collector (electrode); a first vacuum space between the first pair of emitters and the collector, allowing electrons thermally emitted from the first emitter to fly ballistically to the first collector; a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film coated on the bottom surface of the first intermediate conductor to serve as a second emitter; and a second vacuum space, allowing electrons thermally emitted from the second emitter to fly ballistically to the second collector. A gold (Au) film is coated on the top surface of the second intermediate conductor to serve as the second collecting (electrode); a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film is coated on the bottom surface of the second intermediate conductor as the third emitter; a third vacuum space allows thermally emitted electrons to fly ballistically through the third pair of emitter and collector electrodes; a gold (Au) film is coated on the inner surface of the inverted dome-shaped bottom end of the vacuum tube chamber to serve as a terminal collecting (electrode) connected to the power outlet socket.

[0026] According to another exemplary embodiment, the present invention teaches the fabrication and use of an asymmetric functionally gated isothermal electron generator system having a pair of extremely low work function (0.5 electron volts (eV)) silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitters and a high work function graphene (4.60 electron volts (eV)) collector electrodes for extracting ambient thermal energy from the interior of a refrigerator / refrigerator via isothermal electrons and generating isothermal electricity, thereby providing a new type of cooling for the refrigerator / refrigerator.

[0027] According to some exemplary embodiments, the special asymmetric functional gating-based isothermal electron power generation system is an integrated isothermal electron power generation system, which has a narrow inter-electrode gap size between each pair of emitters and collectors installed in a vertically arranged vacuum tube cavity, including: a low work function film coated on the bottom surface of the first conductive plate serving as a first emitter; a first narrow space between the first pair of emitters and collectors, allowing thermally emitted electrons to fly ballistically; a high work function film coated on the top surface of the second conductive body to serve as a first collecting electrode; a low work function film on the bottom surface of the second conductive body serving as a second emitter; a second narrow space between the second pair of emitters and collectors, allowing thermally emitted electrons to fly ballistically; a high work function film coated on the top surface of the third conductive body serving as a second collecting electrode; a low work function film coated on the bottom surface of the third conductive body serving as a third emitter; a third narrow space between the third pair of emitters and collectors, allowing thermally emitted electrons to fly ballistically; a high work function film coated on the top surface of the fourth conductive body serving as a terminal collecting electrode; a first power outlet socket connected to the first conductive plate and grounded; a second power outlet socket connected to the fourth conductive body.

[0028] According to some exemplary embodiments, the gap size between the emitter and collector electrodes is selected from the group consisting of: 2 nanometers (nm), 3 nm, 4 nm, 5 nm, 6 nm, 7 nm, 8 nm, 9 nm, 10 nm, 12 nm, 14 nm, 16 nm, 18 nm, 20 nm, 25 nm, 30 nm, 35 nm, 40 nm, 45 nm, 50 nm, 60 nm, 70 nm, 80 nm, 100 nm, 120 nm, 140 nm 160nm, 180nm, 200nm, 250nm, 300nm, 500nm, 600nm, 700nm, 800nm, 900nm , 1000nm, 1.2 microns (μm), 1.4μm, 1.6μm, 1.8μm, 2.0μm, 2.5μm, 3.0μm, 3.5μm , 4.0μm, 4.5μm, 5.0μm, 6.0μm, 7.0μm, 9.0μm, 10μm, 12μm, 14μm, 16μm, 18 μm, 20μm, 25μm, 30μm, 35μm, 40μm, 45μm, 50μm, 60μm, 70μm, 80μm, 90μm, 10 0μm, 120μm, 140μm, 160μm, 180μm, 200μm, 250μm, 300μm, 400μm, 500μm, 600μm, 700μm, 800μm, 900μm, 1000μm, 1.2 millimeters (mm), 1.4 mm, 1.6 mm, 1.8 mm, 2.0 mm, 2.5 mm, 3.0 mm, 4.0 mm, 5.0 mm, 6.0 mm, 7.0 mm, 8.0 mm, 9.0 mm, 10 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm, 30 mm, 40 mm, 50 mm, 60 mm, 80 mm, 100 mm, and within ranges of any two of these values.

[0029] According to some exemplary embodiments, the special asymmetric functional gating-based isothermal electron power generation system is a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitter with a low work function (0.6 eV) and a protonated polyaniline collector with a high work function (4.42 eV), which is installed in a cavity-shaped vacuum tube. This vacuum tube isothermal electron power generation system includes: a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film coated on the dome-shaped top inner surface of the cavity-shaped vacuum tube wall to serve as an emitter; a protonated polyaniline film coated on the inverted dome-shaped bottom inner surface of the cavity-shaped vacuum tube to serve as a collector; a vacuum space between the emitter and the collector, allowing the thermally emitted electrons to fly through ballistically; a power outlet socket connected to the emitter; and a power outlet socket connected to the collector.

[0030] According to some exemplary embodiments, the special asymmetric functional gating based isothermal electron power generation system is a system having three pairs of low work function (0.6 eV) silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitters and high work function (4.42 eV) protonated polyaniline collectors. This isothermal electron power generation system integrated in series includes: coating a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film on the dome-shaped top inner surface of the vacuum tube wall to serve as the first emitter; coating a protonated polyaniline film (collector) on the top surface of the first intermediate conductor to serve as the first collector; a first vacuum space to make the thermally emitted electrons fly ballistically through the first emitter and the first collector; coating a protonated polyaniline film (collector) on the bottom surface of the first intermediate conductor. A silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film is coated to serve as a second emitter; a protonated polyaniline film is coated on the top surface of the second intermediate conductor to serve as a second collector; a second vacuum space is used to make the thermally emitted electrons fly ballistically between the second emitter and the second collector; a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film coated on the bottom surface of the second intermediate conductor is used as a third emitter; a protonated polyaniline film is coated on the inner surface of the inverted dome-shaped bottom of the vacuum tube to serve as a third collector; a third vacuum space is used to make the thermally emitted electrons fly ballistically between the third emitter and the third collector; a first power outlet socket connected to the first emitter; a second power outlet socket connected to the terminal collector.

[0031] According to some exemplary embodiments, the special asymmetric functional gating-based isothermal electron power generation system is a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitter with a low work function (0.7 eV) and a copper metal collector with a high work function (4.56 eV). This isothermal electron power generation system installed in a cavity-shaped vacuum tube includes: a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film coated on the inner surface of the dome-shaped top of the cavity-shaped vacuum tube wall as an emitter; a vacuum space between the emitter and the collector, allowing the thermally emitted electrons to fly ballistically; a copper (Cu) film coated on the inner surface of the inverted dome-shaped bottom end of the cavity-shaped vacuum tube to serve as a collector; a first power outlet socket connected to the emitter; and a second power outlet socket connected to the collector.

[0032] According to some exemplary embodiments, the special asymmetric functional gating-based isothermal electron generator system has two pairs of low work function (0.7 eV) silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitters and high work function (4.56 eV) copper metal collectors integrated in series. This series-integrated isothermal electron generator system includes: a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film coated on the inner surface of the dome-shaped top of the vacuum tube chamber wall as the first emitter; a first vacuum space between the first pair of emitters and the collector, so that Thermally emitted electrons fly ballistically through the vacuum tube; a Cu film / plate coated on the top surface of the intermediate conductor serves as a first collecting electrode; a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film coated on the bottom surface of the intermediate conductor serves as a second emitter; a second vacuum space between the second pair of emitters and collectors allows thermally emitted electrons to fly ballistically through the vacuum tube; a Cu film is coated on the inner surface of the inverted dome-shaped bottom end of the vacuum tube chamber, serving as a terminal collector; a first power outlet socket connected to the first emitter; and a second power outlet socket connected to the terminal collector.

[0033] According to some exemplary embodiments, the special asymmetric functional gating-based isothermal electron generator system adopts three pairs of extremely low work function (0.5eV) silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitters and high work function gold (Au) metal (5.10eV) collectors integrated in series, and the series-integrated isothermal electron generator system includes: coating a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film on the inner surface of the dome-shaped top end of the vacuum tube chamber wall to serve as a first emitter; allowing thermally emitted electrons to fly through the first vacuum space between the first pair of emitters and collectors; coating a gold (Au) film on the top surface of the first intermediate conductor to serve as a first collector; and coating a gold (Au) film on the top surface of the first intermediate conductor to serve as a first collector. A silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film is coated on the bottom surface of the body to serve as a second emitter; a second vacuum space is formed between the second pair of emitters and the collector, allowing thermally emitted electrons to fly through ballistically; a gold (Au) film is coated on the top surface of the second intermediate conductor to serve as a second collector; a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film is coated on the bottom surface of the second intermediate conductor as a third emitter; a third vacuum space is formed between the third pair of emitters and the collector, allowing thermally emitted electrons to fly through ballistically; a gold (Au) film is coated on the inner surface of the inverted dome-shaped bottom end of the vacuum tube chamber to serve as a terminal collector; a power outlet socket is connected to the first emitter; and a power outlet socket is connected to the terminal collector.

[0034] According to some exemplary embodiments, the special asymmetric functional gating based isothermal electron power generation system adopts multiple pairs of low work function (1.01eV) doped graphene emitters and high work function (4.60eV) graphene collectors integrated in series, and the series integrated isothermal electron power generation system includes: a doped graphene film coated on the inner surface of the dome-shaped top of the vacuum tube cavity wall, which serves as a first emitter; a first vacuum space between the first pair of emitters and collectors, which allows thermally emitted electrons to fly through ballistically; a graphene film coated on the top surface of the first intermediate conductor serves as a first collector; a graphene film coated on the top surface of the first intermediate conductor The doped graphene film on the bottom surface is used as the second emitter; the second vacuum space between the second pair of emitters and the collector allows thermally emitted electrons to fly through ballistically; the graphene film coated on the top surface of the second intermediate conductor is used as the second collector; the doped graphene film coated on the bottom surface of the second intermediate conductor serves as the third emitter; the third vacuum space between the third pair of emitters and the collector allows thermally emitted electrons to fly through ballistically; the graphene film coated on the inner surface of the inverted dome-shaped bottom end of the vacuum tube cavity serves as the terminal collector; the power outlet socket connected to the first emitter; the power outlet socket connected to the terminal collector.

[0035] According to some exemplary embodiments, the low work function hot electron emitter has a specific work function value selected from: 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 2.6, 2.8, 3.0 electron volts (eV), and within any two ranges of these values.

[0036] According to some exemplary embodiments, the high work function electron collector has a special work function value selected from: 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 2.6, 2.8, 3.0, 3.2, 3.4, 3.6, 3.8, 4.0, 4.2, 4.4, 4.6, 4.8, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0 electron volts (eV), and within any two ranges of these values.

[0037] According to some exemplary embodiments, the isothermal operating temperature or temperature range of the asymmetric functional gated isothermal electronic power generation system is selected from: 193, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 273, 278, 283, 288, 293, 298, 303, 308, 313, 318, 323, 328, 333, 338, 343, 348,353,363,373,383,393,403,413,423,433,453,473,493,513,533,553,573,623,673,723,773,823,873,923,973,1073,1173,1273,1373,1473 Kelvin (K), and within ranges of any two of these values.

[0038] According to some exemplary embodiments, the low work function thermal electron emitter is made of a special emitter material, and the special emitter material is selected from: silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs), cesium oxide (Cs2O) coated silver (Ag) plate surface, potassium-oxygen / silicon (100) (KO / Si(100)), special low work function material (C12A7:e-), potassium (K) on tungsten tellurium (WTe2), phosphorus (P)-doped diamond, special calcium aluminum oxide (Ca 24 Al 28 O 64 ), cesium / oxygen (Cs / O)-doped graphene, special strontium barium vanadium oxide (Sr 1-x Ba x VO3), barium (Ba)-coated silicon carbide (SiC), oxygen-barium (O-Ba) on tungsten (W), cesium (Cs) on platinum (Pt) metal, and combinations thereof.

[0039] According to some exemplary embodiments, the high work function electron collector is made of a special collector material, and the special collector material is selected from: platinum (Pt) metal, silver (Ag) metal, gold (Au) metal, copper (Cu) metal, molybdenum (Mo) metal, aluminum (Al) metal, tungsten, rhenium, molybdenum, niobium, nickel, graphene, graphite, polyaniline film, zinc metal oxide (ZnO), ITO metal oxide, FTO metal oxide, two-dimensional nickel, special high work function material (PEDOT:PSS), protonated polyaniline film, and combinations thereof.

[0040] According to some exemplary embodiments, the emitter is coated on certain surfaces of an electrical conductor, and the electrical conductor is selected from the group consisting of: a thermally conductive electrical conductor, a thermally conductive metal conductor, a refractory metal, a metal alloy, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, silver, gold, platinum, molybdenum, conductive molybdenum oxide (MoO3), tungsten, rhenium, molybdenum, niobium, nickel, titanium, graphene, graphite, a thermally conductive and electrically conductive polymer, a polyaniline film, a protonated polyaniline film, and combinations thereof.

[0041] According to some exemplary embodiments, the collecting electrode is coated on certain surfaces of an electrical conductor, and the electrical conductor is selected from the group consisting of: a thermally conductive electrical conductor, a thermally conductive metal conductor, a refractory metal, a metal alloy, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, silver, gold, platinum, molybdenum, conductive molybdenum oxide (MoO3), tungsten, rhenium, molybdenum, niobium, nickel, titanium, graphene, graphite, a thermally conductive and electrically conductive polymer, a polyaniline membrane, a protonated polyaniline membrane, and combinations thereof.

[0042] According to some exemplary embodiments, wherein the container is made of a plurality of heat-conducting wall materials, the heat-conducting wall materials are selected from the group consisting of heat-conducting metals and heat-conducting non-metallic materials including stainless steel, aluminum, copper, metal alloys, vacuum tube glass, vacuum bulb glass, electrical insulating materials, carbon fiber composites, vinyl ester, epoxy resin, polyester resin, thermoplastic plastics, high thermal conductivity graphene, graphite, cellulose nanofiber / epoxy resin nanocomposites, heat-conducting and electrically insulating plastics, heat-conducting and electrically insulating ceramics, heat-conducting and electrically insulating glass, glass fiber reinforced plastic materials, borosilicate glass, Pyrex Glass, glass fiber, sol-gel, silicone gel, silicone rubber, quartz minerals, diamond materials, glass ceramics, transparent ceramics, transparent plastics, such as acrylic (polymethyl methacrylate), butyrate (cellulose acetate butyrate), polycarbonate (Lexan) and glycol modified (PETG), polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyethylene (or polyethylene) and polyethylene HD, thermally conductive transparent plastics, thermally conductive and electrically insulating coatings, colorless glass, transparent plastics containing certain anti-reflective materials or coatings, transparent glass materials containing certain anti-reflective materials, and combinations thereof.

[0043] According to some exemplary embodiments, the interface contact and seal between the container wall and the electrode plate is made of a certain thermally conductive but electrically insulating material selected from the group consisting of: thermally conductive and electrically insulating plastic, epoxy resin, polyester resin, airtight electrically insulating silicone gel (Kafuter 704RTV) materials, thermoplastics, thermally conductive and insulating ceramics, thermally conductive and insulating glass, high thermal conductivity graphene, graphite, transparent plastics, acrylic (polymethyl methacrylate), butyrate (cellulose acetate butyrate), polycarbonate (Lexan) and ethylene glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate (PETG), polypropylene, polyethylene and polyethylene HD, thermally conductive transparent plastics, thermally conductive adhesives, electrically insulating adhesives, thermally conductive coatings, electrically insulating coatings, thermally conductive glass, heat-resistant glass, borosilicate glass, sol-gel, silicone gel, silicone rubber, quartz minerals, diamond materials, cellulose nanofiber / epoxy resin nanocomposites, carbon fiber composites, glass ceramic materials, transparent ceramics, transparent plastics containing anti-reflective materials and / or coatings, transparent glass containing anti-reflective materials, and combinations thereof.

[0044] According to some exemplary embodiments, the asymmetric function-gated isothermal electronic power generation system with the energy recovery process function includes the following features: the isothermal electronic power generation current density (J) generated by the extraction of ambient thermal energy can be calculated according to the following formula: isoT ):

[0045] J isoT =AT 2 (e -[WF(e)+e·V(e)] / kT -e -[WF(c)+e·V(c)] / kT )

[0046] where A is the universal factor (called the Richardson-Dushman constant) and can be expressed as [where m is the mass of the electron, e is the electron unit charge, k is the Boltzmann constant, and h is Planck's constant]); T is the absolute temperature of the emitter and collector in Kelvin (K); WF(e) is the work function of the emitter surface; the e·V(e) term is the product of the electron unit charge e and the emitter voltage V(e); k is the Boltzmann constant in eV / K; WF(c) is the work function of the collector surface; e·V(c) is the product of the electron unit charge e and the collector voltage V(c).

[0047] According to some exemplary embodiments, the special asymmetric functional-gated isothermal electron-based generator system has a pair of low work function (0.5 eV) silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitters and a high work function (4.60 eV) graphene collector for simultaneously generating isothermal electronic power by extracting ambient thermal energy from the interior of the refrigerator, and providing a novel cooling method for the new refrigerator. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] Figure 1 An asymmetric function-gated isothermal electron generator system 1000 is presented, which includes an asymmetric electron gating function across a membrane-like barrier space separating two electrical conductors.

[0049] Figure 2a The present invention provides a basic unit of an asymmetric functionally gated isothermal electron generator system 1100, which includes a potential barrier space, such as a vacuum space, that separates a pair of electrical conductors: one having a low work function film to act as a thermal emission electrode conductor, and the other having a high work function plate surface to act as an electron collection electrode conductor.

[0050] Figure 2b Certain characteristics of an asymmetric functionally gated isothermal electron generator system 1100 are demonstrated, for example, in the "open circuit" state, the excess holes (positive charges) left at the emitter pole will also electrostatically diffuse to the surface, and similarly, the excess electrons at the collector pole will also diffuse to the surface.

[0051] Figure 2c A preferred practice is shown for grounding the emitter pole to earth at the power outlet 1106 terminal of the asymmetric functionally gated isothermal electronic generator system 1100 .

[0052] Figure 3 An energy diagram of the asymmetric functionally gated isothermal electron generator system 1100 is presented.

[0053] Figure 4a An example is presented that introduces a pair of silver (Ag) and molybdenum (Mo) electrodes mounted in a vacuum tube as part of the fabrication process to create an asymmetric functionally gated isothermal electron generator system.

[0054] Figure 4b An example of an exemplary isothermal electron generation system is given, which uses a low work function silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film coated on the surface of a silver electrode as a thermionic electron emitter.

[0055] Figure 5a The isothermal electron generation current density (ampere (A) / cm2 (cm2)) is shown at various output voltages V(c) from 0.00 to 3.86 volts (V). 2 )), as a function of operating temperature, T, using the example of isothermal electron generation, Eq. 12, for a pair of low-work-function (0.70 electron-volt (eV)) emitter and high-work-function (4.56 electron-volt (eV)) collector electrodes; the emitter in this example is grounded.

[0056] Figure 5b Examples of current density curves for isothermal electron generation using a pair of low-work-function (0.70 electron-volt (eV)) emitter and high-work-function (4.56 electron-volt (eV)) collector electrodes at operating temperatures of 273, 293, 298, or 303 Kelvin (K); the emitter electrode in this example is grounded.

[0057] Figure 5c The isothermal electron generation current density (A / cm2) is shown when the output voltage V(c) is 3.00 volts (V). 2 ) curves for a series of emitters with low work functions of 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1 or 1.2 eV as a function of their operating environment temperature T; each emitter in this example is grounded and paired with a high work function (4.56 eV) collecting electrode.

[0058] Figure 6a The current density (ampere (A) / cm2 (cm2)) of isothermal electron generation using a pair of low work function (0.6 electron volt (eV)) emitter and high work function (5.91 electron volt (eV)) collector electrodes at operating ambient temperatures of 273, 293, 298, and 303 Kelvin (K) is shown. 2 )) curve as a function of the output voltage V(c) from 0.00 to 5.31 volts (V); the transmitter in this example is grounded.

[0059] Figure 6b Isothermal electron generation current density (amperes (A) / cm2 (cm2)) for emitters exhibiting a range of low work function values ​​including 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, or 2.2 electron volts (eV) 2 )) as a function of its operating ambient temperature (T); each emitter in this example is grounded and paired with a high work function (5.91 electron volts (eV)) collector electrode.

[0060] Figure 6c Current density (A / cm2) of isothermal electron generation for a range of low work function values ​​(including 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.8, or 2.0 electron volts (eV)) 2 ) as a function of its operating ambient temperature (T) at an output voltage V(c) of 4.00 volts (V); each emitter in this example is grounded and paired with a high work function (5.91 electron volts (eV)) collector electrode.

[0061] Figure 6d Shown are the current densities (A / cm2) for isothermal electron generation from a range of low work function emitters (including 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, or 0.9 electron volts (eV)). 2 ) as a function of its operating ambient temperature (T) at an output voltage V(c) of 5.00 volts (V); each emitter in this example is grounded and paired with a high work function (5.91 electron volts (eV)) collector electrode.

[0062] Figure 7a The isothermal electron generation current density (A / cm2) is shown at an operating ambient temperature of 273, 293, 298, or 303 Kelvin (K). 2 ) curve versus output voltage V(c) from 0.00 to 4.10 volts (V), where the emitter work function (0.50 electron volts (eV)) and collector work function (4.60 electron volts (eV)) are paired, and the emitter is grounded.

[0063] Figure 7b The isothermal electron generation current density (A / cm2) at freezing / refrigeration temperatures of 253, 263, 273, or 277 Kelvin (K) is shown. 2 ) curve versus output voltage V(c) from 0.00 to 4.10 volts (V). In this example, the emitter work function (0.50 electron volts (eV)) and the collector work function (4.60 electron volts (eV)) are paired, and the emitter is grounded.

[0064] Figure 7c Isothermal electron generation current density (A / cm2) for emitters exhibiting a range of low work function values ​​including 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, 2.2, 2.4, 2.6, 2.8, 3.0, or 3.5 electron volts (eV) 2 ) as a function of the operating ambient temperature (T); each emitter in this example is grounded and paired with a high work function (4.60 electron volts (eV)) collecting electrode.

[0065] Figure 8 An example of an integrated isothermal electron generator system 1300 is shown that includes multiple (eg, three) pairs of electron emitters and collectors operating in series.

[0066] Figure 9aAn example of a prototype of an isothermal electron generator system 1400A is shown having a pair of emitters (with a work function of 0.7 electron volts (eV)) and collectors (with a work function of 4.36 electron volts (eV)) mounted in a container such as a vacuum tube chamber.

[0067] Figure 9b An example of a prototype of an isothermal electron generator system 1400B is shown, with two pairs of electron emitters (with a work function of 0.7 electron volts (eV)) and collectors (with a work function of 4.36 electron volts (eV)) mounted in a vacuum tube chamber.

[0068] Figure 9c An example of a prototype of an integrated isothermal electron generator system 1400C is shown, comprising three pairs of emitters (with a work function of 0.7 electron volts (eV)) and collectors (with a work function of 4.36 electron volts (eV)) mounted in a vacuum cavity.

[0069] Figure 10 An example of an integrated isothermal electron generator system 1500 is shown, in which the inter-electrode gap of each pair of three pairs of low work function emitters and high work function collectors mounted in a vertically arranged vacuum tube chamber has a narrow dimension.

[0070] Figure 11 An example of an integrated isothermal electron generator system 1600 is shown, having three pairs of low work function emitters and high work function collectors mounted in a vertically arranged vacuum cavity to utilize gravity to help pull electrons emitted from the emitters down to the high work function electron collectors.

[0071] Figure 12a An example of an isothermal electron generator system 1700A is shown, which has a pair of low work function (0.6 electron volts (eV)) silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitters and a high work function (4.42 electron volts (eV)) electron collector made of protonated polyaniline mounted in a chamber-type vacuum tube.

[0072] Figure 12b An example of an integrated isothermal electron generator system 1700B is shown, which has two pairs of low-work-function (0.6 electron volts (eV)) silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitters connected in series and an electron collector made of high-work-function protonated polyaniline (4.42 electron volts (eV)), mounted in a cavity-shaped vacuum tube container.

[0073] Figure 12cAn example of an integrated isothermal electron generator system 1700C is shown, which has three pairs of low work function (0.6 electron volts (eV)) silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitters and high work function (4.42 electron volts (eV)) protonated polyaniline electron collectors, which are installed in series in a vacuum tube container.

[0074] Figure 13a Another example of an isothermal electron generator system 1800A is shown having a pair of low work function (0.7 electron volts (eV)) silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) electron emitters and a high work function (4.56 electron volts (eV)) copper (Cu) metal electron collector mounted in a chamber-shaped vacuum tube.

[0075] Figure 13b Another example of an integrated isothermal electron generator system 1800B is shown, which has two pairs of series-connected low-work-function (0.7 electron volts (eV)) silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) electron emitters and high-work-function (4.56 electron volts (eV)) copper metal electron collectors, installed in a cavity-shaped vacuum tube container and operated in series.

[0076] Figure 13c Another example of an integrated isothermal electron generator system 1800C is shown, which has three pairs of low work function (0.7 electron volts (eV)) silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) electron emitters and high work function (4.56 electron volts (eV)) copper (Cu) metal electron collectors, which are mounted in series within a vacuum tube container.

[0077] Figure 14 An example of an integrated isothermal electron generator system 1900 is shown, which uses three pairs of extremely low work function (0.5 electron volts (eV)) silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) electron emitters and high work function (5.10 electron volts (eV)) gold (Au) metal electron collectors, which are installed in series in a vacuum tube container.

[0078] Figure 15 An example of an integrated isothermal electron generator system 2000 is shown, which uses three pairs of electron emitters made of low work function doped graphene (1.01 electron volts (eV)) and electron collectors made of high work function graphite (4.60 electron volts (eV)) operated in series and mounted in a vacuum tube container.

[0079] Figure 16An example of an integrated isothermal electron generator system 2100 is shown having three pairs of low work function doped graphene (1.01 electron volt (eV)) emitters and high work function graphene (4.60 electron volt (eV)) collectors mounted in series in a vacuum tube vessel.

[0080] Figure 17a A photograph shows a pair of parallel aluminum plates supporting silver (Ag) and copper (Cu) electrode plates (size: 40 millimeters (mm) x 46 mm) with electrically insulating plastic spacers (washers), with screws and nuts securing each electrode plate at its four corners. The two electrode plates form a pair of silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs)-type electron emitters (CsOAg) and electron collectors made of copper (Cu) with or without oxygen plasma treatment.

[0081] Figure 17b A pair of parallel aluminum plates supporting silver (Ag) and copper (Cu) collector electrodes (size: 40 mm x 46 mm) are shown secured together with electrically insulating plastic spacers (washers). Heat-shrinkable plastic tubing is used to insulate the metal screws and nuts at the electrode plate corners. The silver (Ag) electrode plates and the copper (Cu) collector electrode plates are brazed to copper wires coated with red and blue insulators, respectively. A thin layer of cesium oxide (CsO) molecules is coated on the surface of the silver (Ag) electrode plates by painting with a dilute cesium oxide solution and then drying, followed by oxygen plasma treatment to form silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) electron emitter plates (CsOAg) with or without oxygen plasma treatment.

[0082] Figure 18 A photograph shows the components of a prototype battery for a CsOAg-Cu isothermal electronic power generation system. The battery consists of silver (Ag, coated with CsO) and copper (Cu) plates supported by a pair of parallel aluminum plates. Copper wires coated with red and blue insulators are installed through a screw-on cap. Two blue plastic air tubes are installed through two additional holes in the screw cap. Electrically insulating and airtight white silicone (Kafuter 704RTV) is used to seal the joints between the wires and tubes passing through the cap.

[0083] Figure 19a A photograph shows four prototype CsOAg-Cu batteries fabricated using screw-cap bottles and caps. Each battery consists of a pair of parallel aluminum plates supporting a CsOAg (a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs)) electron emitter plate and a copper (Cu) collector plate. Wires coated with red and blue insulators are mounted on the surface and passed through the screw cap. After mounting and sealing with electrically insulating and airtight white silicone (Kafuter 704RTV), air was removed from each battery using a vacuum pump through a blue plastic tube attached to the cap.

[0084] Figure 19b The images show 17 prototype CsOAg-Cu isothermal electronic power generation system batteries made using non-threaded bottles and caps, sealed with electrically insulating and airtight silicone (white Kafuter 704RTV).

[0085] Figure 20a A photo is shown showing a CsOAg-Cu isothermal electron generation system prototype battery placed in a Faraday box for isothermal electron generation testing. The red and blue insulation-coated copper wires (passing through the non-threaded bottle cap) are connected to a Keithley 6514 electrometer system's Model 237-ALG-2 using a 237-ALG-2 low-noise cable distributor clamp to measure the current and voltage of the isothermal electron generation.

[0086] Figure 20b A photograph shows a Faraday box made of heavy-duty aluminum foil containing a prototype CsOAg-Cu isothermal electron generation system battery for isothermal electron generation testing using a Keithley 6514 electrometer system's Model 237-ALG-2.

[0087] Figure 21a A photo shows a prototype battery of a CsOAg-Cu isothermal electron power generation system placed in a Faraday box and tested with normal polarity (Keithley 6514 high-precision multimeter, with the red alligator clip connected to the CsOAg electron emitter and the black alligator clip connected to the copper (Cu) electron collector electrode). The current reading is 11.888 picoamperes "11.888 pA.CZ".

[0088] Figure 21b A photo shows a prototype battery of a CsOAg-Cu isothermal electron generation system placed in a Faraday box for reverse polarity testing (Keithley Model 6514 high-precision multimeter, with the black alligator clip connected to the CsOAg electron emitter and the red alligator clip connected to the copper (Cu) electron collector electrode). The current reading is negative 11.030 picoamperes "-11.030pA.CZ".

[0089] Figure 22aA photo shows a CsOAg-Cu prototype isothermal electron generation system battery placed in a Faraday box for normal polarity testing (Keithley 6514 high-precision multimeter, red alligator clip connected to the CsOAg electron emitter, black alligator clip connected to the copper (Cu) electron collector electrode), with a voltage reading of positive 0.10051 volts "0.10051V.CZ".

[0090] Figure 22b A photograph shows a prototype CsOAg-Cu battery placed inside a Faraday cage and tested with a short circuit between the terminals (outlets) of the CsOAg emitter and the copper (Cu) collecting electrode, with a voltage reading of negative 0.00001 volts "-0.00001V.CZ."

[0091] Figure 22c A photo shows a prototype CsOAg-Cu battery placed in a Faraday cage and tested with reverse polarity (Keithley Model 6514 High Precision Multimeter, black alligator clip connected to the CsOAg emitter, red alligator clip connected to the copper (Cu) collector, with a voltage reading of -0.11329 volts "-0.11329V.CZ").

[0092] Figure 23 A photograph shows two prototype CsOAg-Cu isothermal electron generation system batteries connected in parallel with normal polarity inside a Faraday cage (Keithley Model 6514 High Precision Multimeter, red alligator clip connector to CsOAg electron emitter plate and black alligator clip connector to copper (Cu) collector plate), with a current reading of 22.230 picoamperes "22.230pA.CZ".

[0093] Figure 24 A photograph of three prototype CsOAg-Cu isothermal electron generator system batteries connected in parallel with normal polarity inside a Faraday cage (Keithley Model 6514 High Precision Multimeter, red alligator clip connector to CsOAg electron emitter plate and black alligator clip connector to copper (Cu) collector electrode plate) is shown, with a current reading of 26.166 picoamperes "26.166pA.CZ". DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0094] The present invention discloses a series of systematic methods for creating and using asymmetric functionally gated isothermal electrons to generate electricity from ambient thermal energy. This method can be used to isothermally utilize latent (and currently hidden) thermal energy from the environment to generate electricity without the use of conventional energy sources such as high temperature gradients.

[0095] Accordingly, the present invention discloses a unique asymmetric functionally gated isothermal electron energy recovery and renewal conversion technology, as well as a related system method for extracting and utilizing ambient thermal energy, including molecular and / or electronic thermal motion energy, to generate current electromotive force using isothermal electrons to perform useful work. This may have significant scientific and practical significance for the sustainable development of energy and the environment on Earth. In particular, the present invention discloses an energy renewal method for generating isothermal current electromotive force by utilizing a unique asymmetric functionally gated isothermal electron power generation system comprising at least a pair of low-work-function thermionic electron emitters and high-work-function electron collectors. This isothermal electron power generation system is installed in a barrier space in a container (such as a bottle) supported by an electrical conductor, and can isothermally utilize environmental thermal energy to achieve a series of energy recovery and renewal conversion functions, among which, at least one of the following functional modes is utilized: a) isothermal electrons with asymmetric functional gating utilize environmental thermal energy for energy recovery and renewal conversion of waste heat energy fully dissipated from the environment to generate current electromotive force, and output voltage and current through isothermal electron power generation to perform useful work; b) by using isothermal electrons to extract latent heat energy from the inside of the freezer / refrigerator, an isothermal electron current electromotive force is generated, and a cooling effect is generated at the same time without the need for a compressor, condenser, evaporator and / or radiator of a conventional refrigeration mechanism, thereby providing a novel cooling function for a new type of isotherm / freezer; c) a combination thereof.

[0096] The present invention is inspired by the inventors' scientific discoveries related to localized excess protons, as disclosed in their World Patent Application (Publication No. WO2017 / 007762A1) and U.S. Patent Application (Publication No. US2017 / 0009357A1). These discoveries reveal that electrostatically localized protons at a liquid-membrane interface can isothermally utilize ambient thermal energy, also known as latent heat (existing hidden thermal energy), to perform useful work, such as driving adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis (as shown in FIG. 4 of International Patent Application Publication No. WO2017 / 007762A1 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2017 / 0009357A1), without being constrained by the second law of thermodynamics. This type of isothermal proton utilization of ambient thermal energy apparently occurs in many proton-coupled bioenergetic systems, such as alkaliphilic bacteria and animal mitochondria. The initial discovery of anti-Second-Law processes in proton bioenergetics of alkaliphilic bacteria (Figure 12 in International Patent Application No. WO2017 / 007762A1, US Patent Application No. US2017 / 0009357 A1) may represent just the tip of the iceberg for a previously underappreciated mix of non-Second-Law processes. It is now clear that living systems may include a mix of Second-Law and non-Second-Law processes, processes that have apparently occurred naturally on Earth for billions of years. For example, certain biological processes, such as glycolysis, appear to adhere well to the Second Law of Thermodynamics. On the other hand, the equation for the localized proton motive force (pmf) associated with the membrane potential (Equation 9 in International Patent Application Publication No. WO2017 / 007762A1, US Patent Application Publication No. US2017 / 0009357 A1) clearly represents a non-Second-Law energy-renewal mechanism. This groundbreaking fundamental understanding could have practical, game-changing implications for the development of new energy technologies and for sustainable human development on Earth. Inspired by the basic understanding of the above-mentioned proton-based isothermal energy renewal method, the present invention discloses an electron-based energy renewal method below, which can isothermally utilize ambient thermal energy and hot electrons to generate electricity.

[0097] According to one of the various embodiments, this electron-based energy renewal method is provided by teaching the fabrication and use of an asymmetric functionally gated isothermal electron-based generator (e.g., Figure 1 The asymmetric gated electronic system 1000 shown in FIG. 1 is used to teach how to isothermally extract ambient thermal energy to generate electricity. The system 1000 ( Figure 1) includes an asymmetric electron gating function 1003 across a membrane-like barrier space 1004, which separates two electrical conductors 1001 and 1002, which serve as a pair of thermal electron emitters and collector electrodes. Two conductive leads 1006 and 1007 are connected to each of these electrodes 1001 and 1002, serving as two power output terminals that can be connected to an electrical load 1008. The isolation space 1004 is preferably a special electrical insulator that does not contain any conductive material (does not conduct electrons through any conduction band associated with molecular orbitals), but allows electrons thermally emitted from the emitter (also called the emitter) to fly ballistically across the isolation space 1004 to the collector electrode (also called the collector).

[0098] Therefore, according to one of various embodiments, the barrier (isolation) space 1004 comprises a vacuum space that lacks conductive material and / or molecules having a conduction band associated with a molecular orbital, yet allows thermally emitted electrons to fly ballistically through the isolation space 1004. This asymmetric electron gating function 1003 effectively causes freely emitted thermal electrons 1005 to primarily fly ballistically from the electrical conductor (emitter) 1001 to the electrical conductor (collector) 1002 through the barrier space 1004, even though both electrical conductors 1001 and 1002 are under the same temperature and pressure conditions. Because the barrier space 1004 is an electrically insulating space devoid of conventional conductor-based electrical conduction, yet possesses the unique property of allowing thermal electrons to fly ballistically through it, the asymmetric electron gating function 1003 not only minimizes reverse emission from the collector, but also prevents unwanted thermal electrons captured by the collector 1002 from conducting back to the emitter. As a result, excess hot electrons captured by collector 1002 can accumulate, undergo thermal equilibrium, and electrostatically interact, with most of themselves being distributed to the surface of collector 1002 electrode. Similarly, excess positive charge ("holes") remaining in the emitter can also accumulate and be electrostatically distributed to the surface of emitter 1001 electrode. This results in a voltage potential difference being generated across the barrier space 1004 between emitter 1001 and collector 1102, in a manner similar to the membrane potential (Δψ, expressed in Equation 2b) generated in proton-coupled bioenergetic systems.

[0099] Note that in the case of a biological membrane with localized excess protons, when a proton loading circuit (e.g., an ATP synthase proton channel / load) is provided, the excess protons typically flow through the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase proton channel in the biological membrane to achieve the effect of driving adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis (e.g., as shown in FIG. 4 of International Patent Application Publication No. WO2017 / 007762A1 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2017 / 0009357A1). Similarly, when an external load circuit is connected between the emitter and the collector, excess electrons in the collector can flow back to the emitter through the external load circuit. Therefore, in this case, the excess electrons in the collector will pass through an external circuit that includes a conductive lead as a power source (power outlet) socket 1007 (-) connected to an electrical load 1008, and the electrical load 1008 is connected to another wire as a power source (power outlet) socket 1006 (+), returning to the emitter 1001 ( Figure 1 By doing so, in this example, a portion of the ambient thermal energy (thermal motion energy) associated with the hot electrons is used to perform work using the electrical load 1008.

[0100] According to one example of various embodiments shown in Figure 2, this asymmetric electron gating function includes a pair of low work function films 1103 formed on the surface of an electrical conductor 1101 to serve as an emitter and a high work function plate 1109 as part of an electrical conductor 1102 serving as a collector, a barrier space 1104 separating the emitter and the collector, and two conductive leads 1106 and 1107 connected to each of these electrodes 1101 and 1102 serving as two power supply (power outlet) terminals that can be connected to an electrical load 1108.

[0101] Figure 2aThe basic unit of an asymmetric functionally gated isothermal electron power generation system 1100 is shown. The system includes a barrier space 1104, such as a vacuum space, separating a pair of electrical conductors 1101 and 1102: one of the plates has a low-work function film 1103 on its surface. The other has a high-work function plate 1109 on its surface. Film 1103 is made of a low-work function material, such as silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs), with a work function as low as approximately 0.7 electron volts (eV), to serve as an emitter. Barrier space 1104 is a special electrical insulator space, such as a vacuum space, that does not conduct electricity through conventional means, but instead allows thermally emitted free electrons 1105 to fly through it ballistically. The use of such a barrier space 1104 and a low-work-function film 1103 enables a large number of ambient-temperature hot electrons to be emitted from the surface of the low-work-function film into the barrier space 1104 and fly ballistically toward the high-work-function collector plate 1109, such as a copper metal plate, which has a work function of up to approximately 4.65 electron volts (eV). At an ambient temperature of approximately 298 Kelvin (K), the probability of such a high-work-function plate 1109 emitting hot electrons from its surface is practically zero, yet it can accept hot electrons that fly from the emitter 1101 through the barrier space. In this way, after the electrons 1105 are thermally emitted from the emitter, the emitted free electrons fly ballistically across the barrier space 1101 to the collector 1102. When the excess electrons electrostatically repel each other and diffuse around the surface of the conductor 1102 (collector), their conduction diffusion behavior is very similar to the proton conduction behavior of excess protons in water. The main body of this conduction diffusion behavior has been disclosed in International Patent Application Publication WO2017 / 007762A1 and U.S. Patent Application Publication US2017 / 0009357A1. Figure 1 c. Similarly, Figure 2b As shown, the excess holes (positive charge) remaining on the emitter will also electrostatically diffuse around the surface of electrode 1101 (emitter). As a result, this creates a voltage difference between the emitter 1101 and the collector 1102. This voltage difference can be used to drive current through the load resistor 1108 by using the terminals of the power (electricity outlet) socket 1107 (-) and 1106 (+). Figure 2a The electrical work shown is done by electrical conduction. The flow of electrons through the external load line continues as excess electrons are conducted back through the external circuit to the emitter, where they are re-emitted again after gaining heat, and so on. Their kinetic energy comes from the heat of the surrounding environment. This explains how system 1100 can generate electricity isothermally by utilizing latent (existing hidden) energy from the environment.

[0102] As mentioned above, this electrostatic conduction diffusion phenomenon ( Figure 2b) and in the international patent application publication (WO2017 / 007762A1) Figure 1 The phenomenon shown, in which excess protons in a water column are separated by a membrane barrier and carry excess hydroxyl anions on the other side of the membrane, is essentially similar or analogous. Experiments shown in Figures 5-11 of International Patent Application Publication No. WO2017 / 007762A1 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2017 / 0009357 A1, verify similar proton conduction and diffusion phenomena. According to the membrane potential equation (Equation 2b), it is the localized excess proton population density caused by the accumulation of excess protons that establishes the membrane potential (Δψ) in the proton-coupled bioenergetics system. Similarly, it is the excess electron population density generated on the collector surface due to the activity between the emitter and collector in an asymmetric functionally gated isothermal electron-based power generation system. Accumulation. Output voltage V output , which is defined as the potential difference between the emitter and collector electrodes used to generate isothermal electricity. Therefore, according to one of the various embodiments, the isothermal electron generation output voltage V under "open circuit" conditions is output The ideal effective concentration of localized excess electrons at the collector surface can be expressed as Function:

[0103]

[0104] Where F is the Faraday constant; d is the barrier space thickness, that is, the distance between the emitter and the collector; κ is the barrier space dielectric constant; ε o is the dielectric constant; l is the thickness of the localized excess electron layer.

[0105] This equation (Equation 11a) mathematically explains the excess electron population density generated by the collector capturing electrons thermally emitted by the emitter How to build up the isothermal electronic power generation output voltage V output Therefore, with such an output voltage V output The excess electrons in the collector can drive the current through Figure 2a The external circuit shown includes a power outlet socket 1107 (-) wire connected to an electrical load 1108, which is connected to another wire as a power outlet 1106 (+) back to the transmitter 1101. By doing so, in this example, a portion of the ambient thermal energy (thermal motion energy) associated with the hot electrons is used to perform useful work using the electrical load 1108.

[0106] Figure 3 The energy diagram of the asymmetric functional gated isothermal electronic power generation system 1100 is given. Figure 31100(a)(left), the transmitter 1101 ( Figure 2a ) is the energy level difference between the Fermi level (E(F,e)) of the emitter (device) and the vacuum energy level (E(vacuum,∞) of the free electrons, where the free electrons at the vacuum energy level (E(vacuum,∞) are considered to be "infinitely" (∞) away from the emitter and "infinitely" (∞) away from the collector surface; while the work function (WF(e)) of the collecting electrode (device) 1102 is the difference between the Fermi level (E(F,e)) of the collector and the vacuum energy level (E(vacuum,∞). Therefore, it is preferred to use an emitter with a work function as low as possible, such as about 0.7 electron volts (eV), so that a large number of ambient temperature hot electrons can be emitted from the emitter surface into the vacuum barrier space 1104 and fly across in a kinetic ballistic manner. The flying electrons carry kinetic energy (E(k )), toward the collector 1109 having a work function (WF(c)) much larger than that of the emitter (WF(e)). On the other hand, since the work function (WF(c)) of the collector is large (e.g., greater than 2.0 eV), essentially no ambient temperature hot electrons can be emitted from the high work function collector surface into the vacuum barrier space 1104. Therefore, the ambient temperature hot electrons essentially cannot escape from the collector surface. Therefore, statistically, there are more free hot electrons 1105 flying from the emitter 1101 to the collector 1102 than in the opposite direction. After the thermally emitted electrons reach the collector 1102, they will be in thermal equilibrium with the environment and diffuse by electrostatic conduction at the collector, resulting in a voltage (V(c)) as shown in Equation 11a. This voltage (V(c)) can drive current through Figure 2a The external electrical load 1108 shown is returned to the emitter 1101. This completes one cycle of the asymmetric function-gated thermionic power generation process and prepares for the next thermionic electron emission and collection cycle ( Figure 2a ).

[0107] like Figure 2b As shown, when the asymmetric function-gated isothermal electron generation system 1100 is in its "open circuit" state (for example, when the electrical load 1108 is removed), as previously described, the asymmetric function-gated active hot electron generation process will cause excess electrons to accumulate in the collector, thereby generating a negative voltage V(c) there; at the same time, this may also cause excess positive charge to accumulate at the emitter, thereby generating a positive voltage V(e) there. The negative voltage V(c) on the collector will increase its effective Fermi level by the absolute value of V(c) to the absolute value of E(F,c) minus the negative voltage V(c) (in Figure 3 1100(b) is marked as “E(F,c)-V(c)”); and the positive voltage V(e) at the emitter will reduce its effective Fermi level to Figure 3(E(F,e)-V(e)) as shown in the middle 1100(b). Therefore, under "open circuit" conditions, the emitter effective work function (WF(e)eq) in the equilibrium state will increase to a higher value (WF(e)+e·V(e)) according to the product of charge e and V(e), e·V(e), while the effective work function of the collector (WF(c)eq) will decrease to a lower value (WF(c)+e·V(c)) according to the absolute value of e·V(c). The higher the effective work function (WF(e)+e·V(e)) of the emitter, the more it will reduce and eventually cut off the emission of ambient temperature electrons from the emitter 1101. Therefore, the accumulation of positive charge will stop the emitter, thereby achieving the following result: Figure 3 The V(e) equilibrium value shown in 1100(b).

[0108] According to one of the various embodiments, Figure 2c As shown, it is preferred to ground the transmitter to the earth 1110 at the grounded power outlet 11106 (+) to prevent the accumulation of positive charge there. When the transmitter is "grounded" (V(e) = 0), the effective work function of the transmitter will remain at the initial value of WF(e) even if the 1100 system is in the "open circuit" state. In this way, Figure 3 As shown in 1100(c), the emission of ambient temperature electrons from the emitter 1101 will continue, and the collector will continue to receive electrons emitted from the emitter, which will increase the absolute value of its V(c) until the effective Fermi level of the collector (E(F,c)-V(c)) rises to the same level as the Fermi level E(F,e) of the relevant emitter WF(e) as the absolute value of V(c) increases. At this time, the reverse emission flow of ambient temperature electrons from the collector 1102 toward the emitter 1101 will offset the flyby flow of ambient temperature electrons from the emitter 1101 to the collector 1102 at an equal rate. In this equilibrium state, V(c) is equal to the difference between the collector work function WF(c) and the emitter work function WF(e), divided by the electron (e - )unit charge.

[0109] This asymmetric functionally gated isothermal electronic generator system 1100 ( Figure 2a-2c) is fundamentally different from the conventional temperature gradient driven thermionic converter previously reported by Hatsopoulos and Gyftopoulos in 1973 (Reference: Thermionic Energy Conversion, Volume I: Processes and Devices, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA and London, UK). Conventional thermionic converters convert heat into electrical energy by boiling electrons from a very hot emitter surface (~2000K) across a small inter-electrode gap (<0.5mm) to a cooler current collector surface (~1000K). In contrast to the isothermal power generation disclosed in the present invention, conventional temperature gradient driven thermionic converters are clearly not isothermal operations. Since thermionic converters are a form of heat engine that operates by using a temperature gradient, they are believed to be limited at best by the Carnot efficiency. In conventional temperature gradient driven thermionic converters reported by King et al. 2004 (Sandia Report, SAND2004-0555, unlimited distribution, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico) and Chou 2014 (PhD dissertation, Stanford University, California, Discovery of Low Work Function Materials for Thermionic Energy Conversion), the high work function electrode is typically used as the emitter, and the emitter is heated by a high temperature heat source, while the low work function electrode is used as the collector and cooled by a cold heat sink. It is therefore believed that conventional thermionic power generation is driven by the temperature difference between the heated emitter and the cooled collector "in accordance with the second law of thermodynamics."

[0110] On the contrary, for Figure 2c The isothermal electron generator system shown preferably uses a special low-work-function conductor as the emitter electrode 1101, while the collector electrode 1102 is selected to have a higher work function, primarily derived from nuclear (positive) charge. More importantly, both emitter 1101 and collector 1102 can be used at the same ambient temperature (isothermal conditions), without requiring a significant temperature gradient between the emitter and collector. Thus, the isothermal electron power generation system isothermally extracts latent heat energy from the environment to produce useful electrical energy, fully complying with the first law of thermodynamics, but using a special asymmetric functional gating mechanism that is not constrained by the second law of thermodynamics.

[0111] In conventional temperature-gradient-driven thermionic converters, a conductive electrode (emitter) is heated to a high temperature, causing electrons to be emitted (Wanke et al., 2017 MRS Bulletin 42: 518-524). These hot electrons can overcome the work function of the electrode and generate a thermionic emission current. This typically requires heating the emitter to temperatures as high as 2000 Kelvin (K) using an external energy / heat source (e.g., focused solar radiation, intensified chemical combustion, or heat from nuclear decay reactions), while simultaneously cooling the current collector to below approximately 600 Kelvin (K) using a heat sink (Sandia Report, SAND2004-0555). Air-breathing chemical heat sources (e.g., conventional hydrocarbon burners) cannot reach the required thermionic temperature (~2000 K)) unless a large amount of air is used for preheating. In other words, the operation of thermionic converters relies on the exceptionally high temperature at the emitter, resulting in a large temperature difference between the two electrodes (thermionic emitter and collector). The elevated temperatures required for thermionic converters create significant technical challenges related to the structure of the fuel elements and the means of transferring heat to the converters. It is believed that the Carnot efficiency here represents the limiting efficiency (Khalid et al., 2016 IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices 63: 2231-2241). In contrast, the asymmetric function-gated isothermal electron generator system disclosed in the present invention does not require such high temperatures and is not limited by the Carnot efficiency because it can generate electricity by isothermally utilizing latent heat energy from the ambient temperature. No energy-intensive heating and / or cooling energy is required.

[0112] According to one of the various embodiments of the present invention, the asymmetric electronic gating function 1003 ( Figure 1 ) includes utilizing a low work function emitter 1103 ( Figure 2a ); and using a conductive plate 1102 with a higher work function as a collector 1109, which basically does not emit electrons under ambient temperature conditions, but can collect hot electrons from the emitter 1103. The low work function emitter 1103 can emit hot electrons even at ambient temperature (for example, 293K (20°C)). It is this asymmetric electron gating function that enables hot electrons 1105 to pass through the vacuum barrier space 1104 from the emitter 1103 to the collector 1109 under isothermal conditions, thereby generating isothermal electronic power. The power output with a voltage difference between the two outlets 1106 (+) and 1007 (-) is not constrained by the second law of thermodynamics. Therefore, this asymmetric function-gated isothermal electron generator system 1100 ( Figure 2a-2c) represents a unique non-second-law energy technology function that enables energy renewal by extracting latent (existing hidden) thermal energy from the surrounding environment and converting it into electrical energy. This means that under isothermal conditions, hot electrons associated with the emitter and collector are used to convert the thermal energy from the surrounding environment into useful energy in the form of electricity. Fundamentally, this is somewhat similar to the non-second-law energy renewal function previously disclosed in localized proton systems (International Patent Application Publication WO2017 / 007762A1 and US Patent Application Publication US2017 / 0009357A1).

[0113] Previous studies have shown that conventional hot electron generators may be effective, but only at temperatures above 1000 Kelvin (K) (Reference: Hishinuma et al., 2001 Applied Physics Letters 78: 2572-2574). In contrast, the asymmetric function-gated isothermal electron generator system can operate isothermally at almost any temperature from freezing temperatures (e.g., 253K (-20°C) to ambient temperatures of 293K (20°C) to elevated temperatures. Conventional hot electron generators still cannot operate effectively above and / or below 1000 Kelvin (K). According to one example of various embodiments of the present invention, the temperature or temperature range for isothermal operation of the asymmetric function-gated isothermal electron generator system can be selected from: 193K (-80°C), 200K (-73°C), 210K (-63°C), 220K (-53°C), 230K (-63°C), 240K (-63°C), 250K (-63°C), 260K (-63°C), 270K (-63°C), 280K (-63°C), 290K (-63°C), 300K (-63°C), 310K (-63°C), 320K (-63°C), 330K (-63°C), 340K (-63°C), 350K (-63°C), 360K (-63°C), 370K (-63°C), 380K (-63°C), 390K (-63°C), 400K (-63°C), 410K (-63°C), 420K (-63°C), 430K (-63°C), 440K ( ),230K(-43℃),240K(-33℃),250K(-23℃),260K(-13℃),270K(-3℃),273K(0℃),278K(5℃),283K(10℃),288K(15℃),293K(20℃),2 98K(25℃),303K(30℃),308K(35℃),313K(40℃),318K(45℃),323K(50℃),328K(55℃),333K(60℃),338K(65℃),343K(70℃),348K(75 ℃),353K(80℃),363K(90℃),373K(100℃),383K(110℃),393K(120℃),403K(130℃),413K(140℃),423K(150℃),433K(160℃),453K( 180℃),473K(200℃),493K(220℃),513K(240℃),533K(260℃),553K(280℃),573K(300℃),623K(350℃),673K(400℃),723K(450℃),7 73K (500°C), 823K (550°C), 873K (600°C), 923K (650°C), 973K (700°C), 1073K (800°C), 1173K (900°C), 1273K (1000°C), 1373K (1100°C), 1473K (1200°C), and / or within any two of these values. According to one embodiment of the present invention, isothermal electronic power generation using various asymmetric functional gating methods is operated, where "isothermal operation" means that the emitter and collector are at the same temperature; that is, no temperature difference is required between the emitter and collector.

[0114] According to one example of various embodiments, the appropriate selection of a specific low-work-function conductor as the emitter is crucial, taking into account the ambient operating temperature conditions. For example, for an asymmetric functional gated thermionic power generation system designed to operate at room temperature (approximately 25 degrees Celsius (°C)), the emitter work function is preferably selected to be less than 1.0 electron volt (eV), more preferably less than 0.8 eV. Even more preferably, it is less than 0.7 eV or 0.6 eV, and most preferably less than 0.5 eV. For an asymmetric functional gated isothermal electron power generation system designed to operate isothermally at higher ambient temperatures (e.g., 35°C, 40°C, 50°C, 60°C, 80°C, 100°C, 120°C, 150°C, 200°C, and / or within the bounds of any two of these ranges), a slightly higher work function material among these values ​​may be selected for use as the emitter, depending on the specific conditions. On the other hand, when the expected isothermal operating temperature is significantly lower, for example within the range of 15°C, 10°C, 5°C, 0°C, -5°C, -10°C, -15°C, -20°C, -30°C, -50°C and / or within the range limited by any two of these values, a material with a very low work function should be selected for use as the emitter.

[0115] According to one of the various embodiments, depending on its specific application and the relevant temperature conditions, system composition, and the characteristics of the electrode material and the barrier space (such as their thickness, capacitance and other physicochemical properties), the work function of the emitter electrode for extracting ambient heat to generate electricity can be selected from: 0.2eV, 0.3eV, 0.4eV, 0.5eV, 0.6eV, 0.7eV, 0.8eV, 0.9eV, 1.0eV, 1.1eV, 1.2eV, 1.3eV, 1.4eV, 1.5eV, 1.6eV, 1.7eV, 1.8eV, 1.9eV, 2.0eV, 2.1eV, 2.2eV, 2.4eV, 2.6eV, 2.8eV, 3.0eV and / or within any two ranges among these values.

[0116] According to one example of various embodiments, the collector 1102 preferably has a larger diameter than its paired emitter 1101 ( Figure 2a-2c) has a high work function, so that no obvious isothermal electron emission occurs on the collector surface. The work function of the collector for extracting ambient heat to generate isothermal electricity is selected from 1.0 eV, 1.1 eV, 1.2 eV, 1.3 eV, 1.4 eV, 1.5 eV, 1.6 eV, 1.7 eV, 1.8 eV, 1.9 eV, 2.0 eV, 2.1 eV, 2.2 eV, 2.4 eV, 2.6 eV, 2.8 eV, 3.0 eV, 3.2 eV, 3.4 eV, 3.6 eV, 3.8 eV, 4.0 eV, 4.2 eV, 4.4 eV, 4.6 eV, 4.8 eV, 5.0 eV, 5.5 eV, 6.0 eV and / or within any two ranges among these values, depending on its specific application and related temperature conditions, system composition and the characteristics of the electrode material and barrier space (such as thickness, capacitance and other physicochemical properties).

[0117] As previously mentioned, the work function represents the energy barrier for electrons at the Fermi level to escape from a solid (such as a metallic conductor) into free space. The work function typically consists of two components: a bulk component and a surface component. The bulk component is dominant and corresponds to the chemical potential derived from the electron density and the density of states associated with nuclear (positive) charge forces in the solid. The surface component (also known as the surface dipole component) originates from the redistribution of charge on the metal surface, which induces a surface dipole. This is typically caused by electrons "spillover" into the vacuum over a small distance (angstroms). This creates a negatively charged sheet on the exterior of the solid, leaving behind a positively charged sheet of metal ions in the surface and subsurface atomic planes. This double charge (surface dipole) sheet creates a potential energy step that increases the potential of electrons immediately emitted from the surface and effectively raises the electron vacuum energy level (Evac(S)) at the emitter surface. This surface dipole-related component can be associated with the energy difference between the vacuum energy level at the emitter surface (Evac(S)) and the vacuum energy level in the vacuum space away from the surface (Evac(∞)). The negative charge associated with the surface dipole can repel electrons from the electrode. Therefore, electrons leaving the emitter surface may be accelerated toward the collector by the repulsive force from the emitter surface dipole, which may facilitate isothermal power generation. On the other hand, if the collector also has a negative charge component associated with the surface dipole, it may hinder the collection of electrons emitted from the emitter by repelling electrons away from the collector surface. Therefore, according to one of various embodiments, it is preferred to use a collector that has no or minimal negative charge component associated with the surface dipole. Alternatively, if a negative charge component associated with the surface dipole exists on the collector surface, it needs to be equal to or less than the negative charge component on the emitter surface for the isothermal generator to operate more efficiently. That is, it is advantageous to use a work function that primarily originates from nuclear (positive) charge forces, with no or minimal negative charge forces associated with the surface dipole, so that the collector can better collect electrons emitted from the emitter.

[0118] It is crucial to appropriately select a specific low work function conductor as the emitter, while the collector should have a higher work function generated primarily by the nuclear (positive) charge. Table 6 lists various materials with known work function (eV) values ​​that can be considered for selection for fabricating the emitter (emitter) and / or collector (collector) according to one of the various embodiments of the present invention.

[0119] Table 6. Lists examples of various materials with known work functions (electron volts (eV)) that may be considered for use in fabricating an emitter and / or collector according to one of the various embodiments of the present invention.

[0120]

[0121]

[0122]

[0123]

[0124]

[0125]

[0126]

[0127] According to one of the various embodiments of the present invention, it is preferred to use a special low work function conductor as the emitter, while the collector should contain a high work function generated mainly by nuclear (positive) charges.

[0128] According to one of the various embodiments, the emitter is a layer or film of a special low work function material 1103 coated on the conductive electrode 1101, while the collector 1109 is a film of a higher work function coated on the conductive electrode 1102, and / or simply a high work function conductor plate. Depending on the given specific isothermal electronic power generation application and its related operating temperature conditions, the emitter material is selected from: silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs), cesium oxide (Cs2O) coated silver (Ag) plate surface, potassium-oxygen / silicon (100) (KO / Si(100)), special low work function materials (C12A7:e-), potassium (K) on tungsten tellurium (WTe2), phosphorus (P)-doped diamond, special calcium aluminum oxide (Ca 24 Al 28 O 64 ), cesium / oxygen (Cs / O)-doped graphene, special strontium barium vanadium oxide (Sr 1-x Ba x VO3), barium (Ba)-coated silicon carbide (SiC), oxygen-barium (O-Ba) on tungsten (W), cesium (Cs) on platinum (Pt) metal, and combinations thereof. Meanwhile, the collector material is selected from the group consisting of platinum (Pt) metal, silver (Ag) metal, gold (Au) metal, copper (Cu) metal, molybdenum (Mo) metal, aluminum (Al) metal, tungsten, rhenium, molybdenum, niobium, nickel, graphene, graphite, polyaniline film, zinc metal oxide (ZnO), ITO metal oxide, FTO metal oxide, two-dimensional nickel, special high work function material (PEDOT:PSS), protonated polyaniline film, and combinations thereof.

[0129] According to one of the various embodiments, the material used to manufacture the electrical conductors 1191 and 1102 that support the emitter and / or collector and can also be used directly as collectors is selected from: thermally conductive electrical conductors, thermally conductive metal conductors, refractory metals, metal alloys, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, silver, gold, platinum, molybdenum, conductive molybdenum oxide (MoO3), tungsten, rhenium, molybdenum, niobium, nickel, titanium, graphene, graphite, thermally conductive and electrically conductive polymers, polyaniline films, protonated polyaniline films, and combinations thereof.

[0130] According to one of the various embodiments, it is preferred to use a conductor with no surface dipole-dependent work function or a minimal surface dipole-dependent work function component as the collecting electrode to facilitate electron collection from the emitter. For example, non-polar organic conductors generally do not have significant electron "spreading" on the surface and thus can be selected for use as the collecting electrode.

[0131] The main problem that hinders the performance of conventional hot electron converters is the formation of static electronic space charge cloud in the inter-electrode space (Physics of Plasmas 21, 023510 (2014); doi: 10.1063 / 1.4865828). Figure 2a-2c ), that "space charge problem" can be completely minimized. For example, in an asymmetric functionally gated isothermal electron generation system ( Figure 2a-2c In this design, the current density (J) across the interelectrode space is significantly lower (typically ranging from sub-amps / cm² to no more than a few amps / cm²), significantly lower than the 10-100 amps / cm² of conventional thermionic converters (temperatures 1000-2000K). This minimizes the "space charge problem." In conventional thermionic converters, since electrons are emitted into the interelectrode space at such high current densities (J), they repel each other and tend to pull electrons back into the emitter, which now has a positive charge after losing some electrons, forming a cloud of negative charge in the space near the emitter surface. This results in the so-called space charge effect, which subsequently repels additional emitted electrons from the collector, reducing the current delivered to the collector. The space charge effect also creates an additional barrier to electron emission, limiting the number of electrons with sufficient kinetic energy to the collector. Therefore, according to one of the various embodiments, the "space charge problem" is minimized by a number of ways selected from the following: 1) by naturally operating the isothermal electron generation system at a relatively low current ( Figure 2a-2c ) (density (J) across the electrode space ranges from sub-amperes / cm2 to no more than a few amperes / cm2); 2) by grounding the emitter, e.g. Figure 2cas shown; 3) by using a capacitor with the emitter and / or collector, 4) by minimizing the inter-electrode space distance between the emitter and collector to the micrometer and / or nanometer scale; 5) by using gravity to promote the flow of hot electrons from the emitter to the collector; 6) by using positively charged molecular structures on the collector surface, such as protonated amine groups; and combinations thereof.

[0132] According to one of the various embodiments, a device having an isothermal electrical outlet (in the following Figure 8 A series capacitor is used between each pair of emitter and collector pairs (shown in the example of FIG) to increase the capacitance between each pair of emitter and collector electrodes to improve the stability and efficiency of the isothermal electron generator system.

[0133] According to one of the various embodiments, by appropriately reducing the spatial separation distance between the emitter surface and the collector surface (in the following Figure 10 (As shown in the example of ), narrowing the gap space increases the capacitance between each pair of emitter and collector electrodes, thereby improving the efficiency and stability of the isothermal electron generator system. A smaller high-vacuum inter-electrode gap distance helps limit the number of electrons propagating therein. Excessive electrons in transmission will form an electron cloud, reducing efficiency due to space charge effects. Therefore, it is preferable to appropriately minimize the spacing between the emitter and collector surfaces to increase capacitance and limit the formation of a static electron space charge cloud in the inter-electrode space to enhance isothermal electron power generation.

[0134] On the other hand, the barrier space separation distance between the emitter surface and the collector surface should be large enough (slightly larger than the electron tunneling distance of 2 or 3 nanometers (nm)) to avoid current leakage losses due to possible electron tunneling. Considering the metal surface as a two-dimensional system, electrons cannot escape, but the electron density of the metal actually extends beyond the metal surface due to "barrier penetration". For electron tunneling, the distance outside the metal surface where the electron probability density drops to just 1 / 1000 of the electron probability density inside the metal is on the order of 0.1 to 1 nanometer (nm). The electron tunneling distance also depends on the properties of the material and the barrier space. For example, electron transfer and tunneling can occur between metal centers in respiratory enzymes, which are typically at distances of up to 20 or 30 nm. (Reference: 2010 Laser Phys. 20(1): 125-138). It is also known that a biological lipid bilayer membrane with a thickness of about 4 nanometers (nm) works well as an electrically insulating barrier space with a membrane potential voltage difference of about 200 millivolts (mV). In some cases, for example, for ease of manufacturing and certain mechanical operations, a larger gap space between the emitter surface and the collector surface may also be required. Therefore, depending on a given specific application and its associated temperature conditions, system composition, and the characteristics of the electrode materials and barrier space, various embodiments of the inter-electrode spacing distance (gap size d) across a pair of emitter and collector electrodes are selected from the following: 2 nanometers (nm), 3 nanometers, 4 nanometers, 5 nanometers, 6 nanometers, 7 nanometers, 8 nanometers, 9 nanometers, 10 nanometers, 12 nanometers, 14 nanometers, 16 nanometers, 18 nanometers, 20 nanometers, 25 nanometers, 30 nanometers, 35 nanometers, 40 nanometers, 45 nanometers m, 50 nm, 60 nm, 70 nm, 80 nm, 100 nm, 120 nm, 140 nm, 160 nm, 180 nm, 200 nm, 250 nm, 300 nm, 500 nm, 600 nm, 700 nm, 800 nm, 900 nm, 1000 nm, 1.2 μm, 1.4 μm, 1.6 μm, 1.8 μm, 2.0 μm, 2.5 μm, 3.0 μm, 3.5 μm, 4.0 μm, 4.5 μm, 5 .0 micron, 6.0 micron, 7.0 micron, 9.0 micron, 10 micron, 12 micron, 14 micron, 16 micron, 18 micron, 20 micron, 25 micron, 30 micron, 35 micron, 40 micron, 45 micron, 50 micron, 60 micron, 70 micron, 80 micron, 90 micron, 100 micron, 120 micron, 140 micron, 160 micron, 180 micron, 200 micron, 250 micron, 300 micron, 400 micron, 500 micron, 600 micron, 700 micrometers, 800 micrometers, 900 micrometers, 1000 micrometers, 1.2 millimeters (mm), 1.4 mm, 1.6 mm, 1.8 mm, 2.0 mm, 2.5 mm, 3.0 mm, 4.0 mm, 5.0 mm, 6.0 mm, 7.0 mm, 8.0 mm, 9.0 mm, 10 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm, 30 mm, 40 mm, 50 mm, 60 mm, 80 mm, 100 mm, and / or within a range of any two of these values.

[0135] According to one of the various embodiments, the barrier space component is selected from: vacuum space, semi-vacuum space, gaseous space, inertial gas space, special gas space, porous material space through which ballistic electrons can fly, perforated two-dimensional (2D) materials, porous insulating films such as porous Teflon films, and combinations thereof. When considering the use of certain special gaseous spaces, care should be taken to avoid possible side reactions of the electric field formed across the inter-electrode space during isothermal electron power generation with gas molecules and space barrier compositions and related electrode materials. When the electric field formed across the inter-electrode space during isothermal electron power generation may be high enough to cause certain side effects, certain undesirable side effects may be caused, such as undesirable current leakage, the formation of plasma or free radical species, and if the gaseous space contains oxygen (O2), ozone (O3) will be produced. For many applications, using a vacuum space as an inter-electrode space barrier 1104 ( Figure 2a-2c ) is a preferred practice. Furthermore, the use of perforated two-dimensional (2D) materials, such as perforated thin insulating films (e.g., perforated Teflon) and certain plastic films that allow thermally emitted electrons to fly through them in a ballistic manner with minimal absorption coefficient, is also valuable. The mass of perforated insulator films can be very low, making them attractive for applications in mobile electronics.

[0136] According to one of the various embodiments, the emitter and the collector are mounted in a vacuum container such as a vacuum tube ( Figure 4a-4b ), vacuum bottles, vacuum chambers and / or vacuum boxes. The vacuum container walls are made of a variety of thermally conductive materials combined with electrically insulating materials, selected from thermally conductive metals including stainless steel, aluminum, copper and metal alloys, vacuum tube glass, vacuum lamp bulb glass, electrically insulating materials, carbon fiber composites, vinyl esters, epoxy resins, polyester resins, airtight electrically insulating silicone gel (Kafuter 704RTV) materials, thermoplastics, high thermal conductivity graphene, graphite, cellulose nanofiber / epoxy resin nanocomposites, thermally conductive and electrically insulating plastics, thermally conductive and electrically insulating ceramics, thermally conductive and electrically insulating glass, glass fiber reinforced plastic materials, borosilicate glass, Pyrex glass, glass fiber, sol-gel, silicone gel, silicone rubber, quartz minerals, diamond materials, glass ceramics, transparent ceramics, transparent plastics such as acrylic (polymethyl methacrylate, PMMA), cellulose acetate butyrate, polycarbonate (Lexan) and glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate (PETG), polypropylene, polyethylene and polyethylene HD, thermally conductive transparent plastics, thermally conductive and electrically insulating coatings, colorless glass, transparent plastics containing certain anti-reflective materials or coatings, transparent glass containing certain anti-reflective materials or coatings, and combinations thereof.

[0137] According to one of the various embodiments, the interfacial contact / seal between the container wall and the electrode plates and / or wires is made of a thermally conductive and electrically insulating material. Depending on the given specific application and its associated temperature conditions, the interface contact / sealing material is selected from: thermally conductive and electrically insulating plastics, epoxy resins, polyester resins, airtight electrically insulating silicone gel (Kafuter 704RTV) materials, thermoplastics, thermally conductive and electrically insulating ceramics, thermally conductive and electrically insulating glass, high thermal conductivity graphene, graphite, transparent plastics, such as acrylic (polymethyl methacrylate, PMMA), butyrate (cellulose acetate butyrate), polycarbonate (Lexan) and ethylene glycol modified polyethylene terephthalate (PETG), polypropylene, polyethylene HD, thermally conductive transparent plastics, thermally conductive glue, electrically insulating glue, thermally conductive varnish, electrically insulating varnish, thermally conductive glass, borosilicate glass such as Pyrex glass, sol gel, silicone gel, silicone rubber, quartz minerals, diamond materials, cellulose nanofiber / epoxy resin nanocomposites, carbon fiber composites, glass ceramic materials, transparent ceramics, transparent transparent plastics containing anti-reflective materials and / or coatings, transparent glass containing anti-reflective materials or coatings and combinations thereof.

[0138] According to one of the various embodiments, an isothermal electronic-based ambient thermal energy utilization system based on asymmetric functional gating includes silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) coated on the surface of a silver (Ag) metal electrode to serve as an emitter with a low work function, and a copper metal conductor as a current collector with a high work function under vacuum conditions.

[0139] According to one of the various embodiments, a prototype of an isothermal electronic-based ambient thermal energy utilization system based on asymmetric functional gating includes a pair of low-work-function silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) films 1203 (coated on the surface of a silver electrode 1201) and a high-work-function molybdenum metal conductor 1202 separated by a vacuum space 1204 in a vacuum tube ( Figure 4a-4b ). A silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film 1203 coated on a silver electrode 1201 serves as an emitter, while a molybdenum (Mo) metal conductor 1202 serves as a collector. In some examples, a molybdenum-oxygen-cesium (Mo-O-Cs) film, which is sometimes co-produced (during the Ag-O-Cs film manufacturing process), can also serve as a current collector because it generally has a higher (larger) work function than the silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film. Figure 4a-4b An example of how to fabricate and test an isothermal electronic power generation system is shown. Figure 4a As shown in FIG, a pair of silver and molybdenum electrodes are installed in a vacuum tube. Cesium (Cs) vapor with a small amount of oxygen is introduced into the vacuum tube. During the manufacturing process, the molybdenum electrode is used as a temporary anode. The surface of the silver electrode is oxidized by an oxygen plasma discharge using Cs vapor. Subsequently, a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film is formed on the silver electrode 1201. Figure 4b Sometimes, this manufacturing process also results in the co-generation of a molybdenum-oxygen-cesium (Mo-O-Cs) film on the molybdenum electrode 1202.

[0140] According to one of the various embodiments, Figure 4b The prototype of the asymmetric function gated electron tube system shown can generate electricity isothermally and can be measured using the input resistance of an electrometer at an ambient temperature of 25°C (298K). It can be predicted that when the power outlet terminal 1206 of the emitter 1201 is connected to the positive (red) input connector of the 237-ALG-2 type low noise cable of the electrometer and the power output terminal 1207 of the collector 1202 is connected to the negative (black) input connector of the electrometer, it will measure the positive current ( Figure 4b When the asymmetric function gated electron tube system and the electrometer are connected in opposite (reverse) directions, where the collector 1202 is connected to the positive (red) input connector of the electrometer and the emitter 1201 is connected to the negative (black) input connector of the electrometer, the isothermal electron generation system ( Figure 4b ) is expected to provide a measurable negative current to the electrometer.

[0141] These predicted characteristics have been successfully demonstrated in preliminary experiments. An asymmetrically gated electron tube was placed in a Faraday shield box made of metal foil and measured using a Keithley 6514 System Electrometer (Keithley Instruments, Cleveland, Ohio, USA). When the emitter 1201 was connected to the positive (red) input connector alligator clip of the Keithley 6514 System Electrometer and the collector 1202 was connected to the negative (black) input connector alligator clip, the Keithley 6514 Electrometer indeed detected a positive current. The steady-state current density perpendicular to the cross-sectional area of ​​the space between the electrodes was measured to be 5.17 picoamperes (pA) per square centimeter (cm 2 At the same time, when the asymmetric gated electron tube system and the electrometer were connected in opposite (reverse) directions, a negative current of considerable magnitude was actually measured using the Keithley 6514 electrometer. The steady-state current density perpendicular to the cross-sectional area of ​​the interelectrode space measured in the opposite direction was negative (-) 4.50 picoamperes per square centimeter. The average steady-state current density, derived from the absolute values ​​measured in both directions, was 4.84 ± 0.34 picoamperes per square centimeter.

[0142] Similarly, according to one of the various embodiments, it is predicted that when the emitter 1201 is connected to the positive (red) input connector alligator clip of a Keithley 6514 electrometer and the collector 1202 is connected to the negative (black) input connector alligator clip, it will measure the positive voltage ( Figure 4bWhen the asymmetric function gated electron tube system is connected to the electrometer in opposite directions, the isothermal electron generation system ( Figure 4b ) will provide a measurable negative voltage to the electrometer. These predicted characteristics have also been successfully demonstrated in preliminary experiments. In this example, the steady-state output voltage, averaged from the absolute values ​​measured in both directions, was approximately 140 millivolts (mV).

[0143] amperes / square centimeter) and steady-state output voltage (about 140 millivolts), the isothermal power density per unit area of ​​the cross-sectional area between the electrodes is calculated to be about 6.78x 10 -13 Watt / square centimeter (cm 2 ).

[0144] Table 7 gives more examples of experimental data on the isothermal electron generation current density of an asymmetric work function gated transistor similar to Figure 4b As shown in Table 7, the electrothermal density is measured in the forward and reverse directions, respectively. Note that sometimes the magnitude of the isothermal current density measured in the normal direction is slightly larger than that measured in the reverse direction. For each of the asymmetric work function gated electron tube samples 1, 2, 3, and 4 listed in Table 7, the isothermal current density values ​​measured in the normal direction are 5.17, 4.90, 7.06, and 9.62 picoamperes per square centimeter (pA / cm2). 2 ), which appear to be slightly larger than the absolute values ​​in the opposite direction (-4.50, -1.63, -2.72, and -5.52 picoamperes per square centimeter (pA / cm 2 ). A similar trend is observed in the corresponding voltage measurements. The amplitude of the isothermal output voltage measured in the normal direction also appears to be slightly larger than that measured in the reverse direction. This can be explained by the interaction of the asymmetric work function gated electron tube system with the Keithley (Keithley 6514) electrometer. For example, if the input connector (black) of the Keithley 6514 system somehow provided a slightly positive voltage to the emitter in the reverse direction during the measurement, it may slightly lower the Fermi level on the emitter, thereby reducing the emitter's ability to emit electrons. This could explain the slightly reduced isothermal electron generation current density and, therefore, also the reduced voltage output.

[0145] As shown in Table 7, for the asymmetric work function gated transistor samples 2, 3, and 4, the absolute average isothermal electron generation current density measured in two directions is 3.26, 4.87, and 7.57 picoamperes per square centimeter (pA / cm2), respectively. 2The corresponding average voltage outputs are 94, 141, and 218 millivolts (mV). For asymmetric work function gated electron tube samples 2, 3, and 4, without any optimization under the given experimental conditions, the isothermal electron generation power density calculated based on the product of the isothermal electron generation current density and the corresponding voltage output is 3.07 x 10 -13 , 6.90x 10 -13 and 1.65x 10 -12 Watts / square centimeter. Therefore, these experimental data and specific details are intended to illustrate proof of principle according to one of the various embodiments, and they should not be considered as limiting its performance.

[0146] Table 7 lists more information about asymmetric work function gated electron tubes (similar to Figure 4b Isothermal electron generation current density (picoampere / square centimeter (pA / cm2) 2 )) experimental data example, measured in the forward and reverse directions, and observed output voltage (millivolts (mV)) and isothermal electron generation power density (Watt / cm2 (Watt / cm 2 )).

[0147]

[0148] According to one example of various embodiments, Figure 2a-2c The asymmetric functional gated thermionic power generation system 1100 shown operates isothermally, where the temperature of the emitter (T e ) is equal to the collector temperature (T c ). Under isothermal operating conditions (T = T e =T c ), the ideal net current density of isothermal electron power generation of the emitted electrons 1105 from the emitter 1101 to the collector 1102 (J isoT ), also defined as the current flux perpendicular to the emitter and collector surfaces, can be calculated from the Richardson-Dushman formula (also known as the ideal isothermal electron generation current density (A / cm 2 ), defined as the cross-sectional area of ​​the emitter / collector space per square centimeter (cm 2 ) current ampere (A) value). The following ideal isothermal electron generation current density (J isoT ) formula to calculate the expression:

[0149] J isoT =AT 2 (e -[WF(e)+e·V(e)] / kT -e -[WF(c)+e·V(c)] / kT ) [11b]

[0150] where A is the universal factor (called the Richardson-Dushman constant) and can be expressed as [where m is the mass of the electron, e is the electron unit charge, k is the Boltzmann constant, and h is Planck's constant]); T is the absolute temperature of the emitter and collector in Kelvin (K); WF(e) is the work function of the emitter surface; e·V(e) is the product of the electron unit charge e and the emitter voltage V(e); k is the Boltzmann constant in eV / K; WF(c) is the work function of the collector surface; e·V(c) is the product of the electron unit charge e and the collector voltage V(c).

[0151] What is particularly important is that this asymmetric functional gated thermionic power generation system can isothermally convert ambient thermal energy (latent heat energy) into electrical energy without the need for external energy-consuming heaters or exhaust radiators, so the energy efficiency is basically 100% and is not constrained by the second law of thermodynamics.

[0152] According to one of the various embodiments, when the voltage at the emitter (V(e)) is zero, for example when the emitter is grounded, as Figure 2c As shown, the current density of the ideal net isothermal electrons flying from the emitter 1101 through the vacuum space to the collector 1102 can be modified using the following ideal isothermal electron power generation current density (J isoT(gnd) ) formula to calculate:

[0153] J isoT(gnd) =AT 2 (e -[WF(e)] / kT -e -[WF(c)+e·V(c)] / kT )

[12]

[0154] According to one of the various embodiments, when the voltage at the emitter (V(e)) and the collector (V(c)) are both zero, for example, in the initial state of the isothermal power generation system 1100, as Figure 2a As shown (or if / when the resistance of the circuit including the load 1108 and the associated wires, electrodes and connecting power outlet terminals 1106 and 1107 is zero), the maximum net isothermal electron current density across the entire vacuum space from the emitter 1101 to the collector 1102 reaches the highest achievable level, which is considered the "saturation" (upper limit) flux after eliminating the effects of any negative space charge and other limiting factors. The following ideal saturated isothermal electron power generation current density (J isoT(sat) ) formula to calculate the ideal saturated electron flux:

[0155] J isoT(sat) =AT 2 (e -[WF(e)] / kT -e -[WF(c)] / kT )

[13]

[0156] According to one of the various embodiments, Figure 2c As shown, the ideal saturated output voltage (V sat ) can be expressed as the difference in work function:

[0157]

[0158] where e is the charge of an electron (unit of electron charge); e.g. Figure 3 As shown in 1100(c) on the right, WF (c) and WF (e) are the collector work function and emitter work function respectively.

[0159] According to one of the various embodiments, the steady state operating output voltage (V st ) can be expressed as:

[0160] V st =V (c) -V (e)

[15]

[0161] Where V (c) and V (e) are the steady-state operating voltages of the collector and emitter, respectively. Figure 3 (as shown in 1100(b)).

[0162] According to one of the various embodiments, Figure 2a As shown, the ideal saturation current (I sat ), which can be expressed as the cross-sectional area of ​​the space between the electrodes (emitter surface) (S) and the ideal saturated isothermal electron generation current flux (called saturation current density (J) isoT(sat) )), the formula is as follows:

[0163] I sat =SJ isoT(sat) =S.AT 2 (e -[WF(e)] / kT -e -[WF(c)] / kT )

[16]

[0164] According to one of the various embodiments, Figure 2a As shown, the ideal steady-state operating current (I st ) can be expressed as:

[0165]

[0166] where R lis the resistance of the electrical load, R m is any possible miscellaneous resistance from the circuit including electrode and lead materials; V st is the steady-state operating output voltage expressed by the above formula

[15] .

[0167] According to one of the various embodiments, the effect of the isothermal electro-active asymmetric functional gating is additive. That is, the asymmetric functional gating can be used in series and / or in parallel. Figure 2a-2c The asymmetric functional gated isothermal electronic generator system shown. When multiple (n) are used in series, as shown in FIG. Figure 2a-2c The total steady-state output voltage (V st(total) ) is the steady-state output voltage of the isothermal electronic generator system with each asymmetric functional gate (V st(i) )’s sum:

[0168]

[0169] Similarly, the total saturated output voltage (V sat(total) ) is the saturated output voltage from each asymmetric function gated isothermal electronic generator (which is V expressed by equation

[14] sat(i) )’s sum:

[0170]

[0171] According to one of the various embodiments, when multiple (n) asymmetric function-gated isothermal electronic generator systems are used in parallel, the total ideal current (I sat(total) ) is the current from each asymmetric function gated isothermal electron generator (the single gated isothermal electron generator current I expressed by equation

[16] sat(i) )’s sum:

[0172]

[0173] Using and their related operating conditions (such as temperature conditions) as well as such as their barrier space thickness and composition, emitter and collector characteristics and other physical and chemical characteristics, multiple (n) asymmetric functionally gated isothermal electronic generator systems can be used in parallel and / or series.

[0174] When multiple (n) asymmetric function-gated isothermal electronic generator systems are operated in parallel, the total steady-state current (I st(total) ) is the steady-state current from each asymmetric functional gated isothermal electron generator (I st(i) ) is the sum of the total steady-state output voltage (V st(total) ) remains unchanged.

[0175] When multiple (n) asymmetric function-gated isothermal electronic generator systems are operated in series, the total steady-state output voltage (V st(total) ) is the steady-state output voltage (V st(i) ), and the total steady-state current (I st(total) ) remains unchanged.

[0176] Figure 5a The ideal isothermal electron generation current density (ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ), defined as per square centimeter (cm 2 ) Example of current in amperes (A) per cross-sectional area of ​​the emitter-collector space as a function of operating temperature T. These isothermal electron generation current densities are calculated using Equation 12 for a pair of emitter work function (WF(e) = 0.70 eV) and collector work function (WF(c) = 4.56 eV, Cu(110)) with the emitter grounded, for various output voltages V(c) ranging from 0.00 to 3.86 volts (V). Since the emitter is grounded, the output voltage is equal to V(c), which is the difference between the collector voltage V(c) and the grounded emitter voltage (V(e) = 0). Therefore, as Figure 3 As shown in the energy diagram of 1110(a), the isothermal electron generation current density (A / cm2) when the output voltage V(c) is 0.00 volts (V) in the initial state is 2 ) represents the saturated isothermal electron generation current density expressed in Equation 13.

[0177] like Figure 5a As shown in the figure, in the temperature range of 225 to 325 Kelvin (K), the ideal isothermal electron power generation current density curve when the output voltage V(c) is 3.00 volts (V) almost overlaps with the curve of the saturated isothermal electron power generation current density (V(c) = 0.00V). When the output voltage V(c) increases to 3.80 volts (V), the isothermal current density curve is only slightly lower than the maximum saturated isothermal current density curve. Under these conditions, the isothermal electron power generation current density increases sharply with the increase of temperature T. However, when the output voltage V(c) is further increased to 3.86 volts (V), the isothermal current density will drop sharply to zero (a solid line), which represents the Figure 3 (right) The equilibrium state shown in 1110(c) where the hot electron flow from the emitter to the collector is equal to the hot electron flow from the collector to the emitter, resulting in a net isothermal electron generation current density of zero.

[0178] Figure 5bThe isothermal electron generation current density (A / cm2) of a pair of emitter work functions (WF(e) = 0.70 eV) and collector work functions (WF(c) = 4.56 eV, Cu(110)) with the emitter grounded at working ambient temperatures of 273, 293, 298, and 303 Kelvin (K) is given. 2 ) curves as the output voltage V(c) varies from 0.00 to 3.86 volts (V). These curves show that at each operating ambient temperature of 273, 293, 298, and 303 Kelvin (K), the saturated isothermal current density is very constant (stable) over the output voltage V(c) range of 0.00 to 3.75 volts (V). When the output voltage V(c) increases from 3.75 to 3.86 volts (V), the isothermal current density drops sharply to zero. At an output voltage of 0 to 3.50 volts (V), as the temperature increases from 273 Kelvin (K) (zero degrees Celsius: 0°C) to 293K (20°C), 298K (25°C), and 303K (30°C), the steady-state isothermal electron generation current density increases from 1.07 microamperes per square centimeter (μA / cm2) at 273 Kelvin (K) to 1.07 microamperes per square centimeter (μA / cm2) at 273 Kelvin (K). 2 ) increased dramatically to 9.39, 15.5, and 25.1 μA / cm 2 ).

[0179] Table 8 lists the ideal isothermal electron generation current density (A / cm 2 ) values ​​as a function of the operating temperature T from 203K (-70℃) to 673K ​​(400℃). These isothermal electron generation current densities (A / cm 2 ) values ​​are calculated from a pair of emitter work functions (WF(e) = 0.70 eV) and collector work functions (WF(c) = 4.56 eV, Cu(110)) with the emitter grounded, using Equation 12 at output voltages V(c) of 0.00, 1.50, 3.00, 3.50, 3.80, and 3.86 volts (V). The data show that the isothermal electron generation current density is strongly dependent on the temperature T, with a reasonable output voltage V(c) of about 3 volts (V) and a decrease from 2.07x10 at 203K (-70℃). -11 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ), and rises to 1.55x10 at 298K (25℃). -5 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ), and rises to 311 amperes per square centimeter (A / cm2) at 673K ​​(400℃). 2 ).

[0180] Table 8 gives the ideal isothermal electron generation current density (A / cm2) calculated from a pair of emitter work function (WF(e) = 0.70 eV) and collector work function (WF(c) = 4.56 eV, Cu(110)) using Equation 12. 2 )), as a function of operating temperature (Kelvin, T(K)) for various output voltages V(c) from 0.00 to 3.86 volts (V). The emitter is grounded, and the output voltage V(c) is the voltage difference between the collector and the grounded emitter.

[0181]

[0182]

[0183]

[0184] According to one of the various embodiments, when the emitter is grounded, the ideal isothermal electronic power generation power production density P at various output voltages V(c) volts isoT(gnd) (W / cm 2 ), can be expressed as:

[0185] P isoT(gnd) =AT 2 (e -[WF(e)] / kT -e -[WF(c)+e·V(c)] / kT )V(c)

[21]

[0186] Table 9 lists the ideal isothermal electron power density for a pair of emitter work functions (WF(e) = 0.70 eV) and collector work functions (WF(c) = 4.56 eV, Cu(110)) with the emitter grounded, defined as the power generated in watts per square centimeter of the cross-sectional area between the emitter and the collector (W / cm 2 ), calculated using Equation 21, as a function of operating temperature T from 203K (-70°C) to 673K ​​(400°C) at multiple output voltage V(c) values ​​including 0.00, 1.50, 3.00, 3.50, 3.80, and 3.86 volts (V). The data shows that in this example, the optimal isothermal electronic power generation power production density (W / cm 2 ) is about 3.50 volts (V). Isothermal power density (W / cm2) when output voltage V(c) is 3.50 volts (V) 2 ) depends strongly on the temperature T, from 7.24x10 -11 Watt / square centimeter (W / cm 2 ), to 5.41x10 at 298K (25℃) -5 (W / cm2 ), and up to 1090 (W / cm2 at 673K ​​(400℃) 2 ).

[0187] Table 9 gives the ideal isothermal electronic power production power density (W / cm2) for a pair of emitter work function (WF(e) = 0.70 eV) and collector work function (WF(c) = 4.56 eV, Cu(110)) with the emitter grounded. 2 )), as a function of operating temperature (Kelvin, T(K)), the power density is defined as the power generated per square centimeter of the cross-sectional area between the emitter and collector (W / cm 2 ), calculated according to Equation 21 under various output voltage V(c) state conditions of 0.00 to 3.86 volts (V).

[0188]

[0189]

[0190] Figure 5c The ideal isothermal electron generation current density (A / cm2) of the isothermal electron generator system with an output voltage V(c) of 3.00 volts (V) is given. 2 ), as a function of the operating ambient temperature T and as a function of a range of emitter work function (WF(e)) values. The range of emitter work function values ​​includes values ​​of 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1 or 1.2 eV paired with a collector work function value with a grounded emitter (WF(c) = 4.56 eV, copper Cu(110)). The data shows that the use of an emitter with a low work function value is very important for isothermal electricity generation using ambient heat. Therefore, according to one of the various embodiments, it is preferred to use an emitter with a low work function value, the emitter low work function value being selected from 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2 eV, and / or any two of these values, for isothermal electron generation in a temperature range of 250 to 673 Kelvin (K).

[0191] Figure 6a The ideal isothermal electron generation current density (A / cm2) at operating temperatures (T(K)) of 273, 293, 298, and 303 Kelvin is given for a pair of emitter work functions (WF(e) = 0.60 eV) and collector work functions (WF(c) = 5.91 eV, Pt(111)) with the emitter grounded. 2) curves, showing examples of changes with output voltage V(c) from 0.00 to 5.31 volts (V). These curves show that at each operating ambient temperature of 273, 293, 298, and 303 Kelvin (K), the isothermal current density is very constant (stable) over the output voltage V(c) range of 0.00 to 5.00 volts (V). Only when the output voltage V(c) increases above 5.0 volts (V), reaching the limit of 5.31 volts (V), does the isothermal current density significantly decrease to zero. The steady-state isothermal electron generation current density at an output voltage of 5.00 volts (V) increases dramatically with operating temperature: from 7.50x10 at 273K (0°C) to 1.50x10 -5 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ) when it rises to 4.93x10 -4 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ), and then increased to 7.59x10 -4 and 1.15x10 at 303K (30℃) -3 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ).

[0192] Figure 6b The ideal isothermal electron generation current density (A / cm 2 ) versus the ambient operating temperature, T, and emitter work function values, including values ​​of 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, and 2.2 electron volts (eV). Each emitter work function (WF(e)) value is paired with the emitter-to-collector work function (WF(c) = 5.91 eV, Pt(111)) and grounded. The data demonstrates that using emitters with lower work functions to generate isothermal electricity from ambient heat is a good approach. Therefore, according to one of the various embodiments, it is preferred to use an emitter with a low work function value, wherein the emitter low work function value is selected from 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, and 2.2 eV, and / or any two ranges of these values, and is used for isothermal power generation in a temperature range of 250 to 1500 Kelvin (K).

[0193] Figure 6c The ideal isothermal electron generation current density (A / cm2) of the isothermal electron generator system when the output voltage V(c) is 4.00 volts (V) is given. 2) as a function of the ambient operating temperature, T, and for a range of emitter work function (WF(e)) values. The range of emitter work function (WF(e)) values ​​includes 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.8, and 2.0 electron volts (eV), each paired with a collector work function (WF(c) = 5.91 eV, platinum (Pt(111))) with the emitter grounded. The data shows that it is better to use emitters with lower work function values ​​to generate isothermal electricity from ambient heat. Therefore, according to one of the various embodiments, it is a more preferred practice to use an emitter with a low work function value, wherein the emitter low work function value is selected from 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, and 1.8 electron volts (eV), and / or within the range defined by any two of these values, in the temperature range of 250 to 1500 Kelvin (K), with an output voltage V(c) of 4.00 volts (V) for isothermal power generation.

[0194] Figure 6d The ideal isothermal electron generation current density (A / cm2) of the isothermal generator system when the output voltage V(c) is 5.00 volts (V) is given. 2 ) with the operating environment temperature T and with a series of emitter work function (WF(e)). The series of emitter work function values ​​includes: 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, and 0.9 electron volts (eV), each emitter work function value is paired with a collector work function value (WF(c) = 5.91 eV, platinum Pt (111)), and the emitter is grounded. The data shows that it is a better practice to use an emitter with a lower work function value to generate isothermal electricity using ambient heat. Therefore, according to one of the various embodiments, it is preferred to use an emitter with a low work function value, the emitter low work function value selected from: 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, and 0.9 electron volts (eV), and / or a range limited by any two of these values, to perform isothermal power generation with an output voltage V(c) of 5.00 volts (V) in the temperature range of 250 to 900 Kelvin (K).

[0195] Figure 7a The ideal isothermal electron generation current density (A / cm2) of a pair of emitter work function (WF(e) = 0.50 eV) and collector work function (WF(c) = 4.60 eV, graphene and / or graphite) with the emitter grounded at operating ambient temperatures (T(K)) of 273, 293, 298, and 303 Kelvin is given. 2) curves, showing examples of changes in the output voltage V(c) from 0.00 to 4.10 volts (V). These curves show that at each operating ambient temperature of 273, 293, 298, and 303 Kelvin (K), the isothermal current density is very constant (stable) within the output voltage V(c) range of 0.00 to 4.00 volts (V). When the output voltage V(c) exceeds 4.00 V and rises to the limit of 4.10 V, the isothermal current density drops sharply to zero. The steady-state isothermal current density level at an output voltage of 3.50 V increases dramatically with increasing operating ambient temperature, from 5.26x10 at 273 K (0°C) to 1.5x10 at 2.5x10 at 3.5x10. -3 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ) increases to 2.59x10 -2 ,3.73x10 at 298K (25℃) -2 and 5.32x10 at 303K (30℃) -2 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ).

[0196] Figure 7b The ideal isothermal electron generation current density (A / cm2) of a pair of emitter work functions (WF(e) = 0.50 eV) and collector work functions (WF(c) = 4.60 eV, graphene and / or graphite) with the emitter grounded at freezing and / or refrigeration temperatures (T(K)) of 253, 263, 273, and 277 Kelvin (K) is given. 2 ) curves, showing examples of variations with output voltage V(c) from 0.00 to 4.10 volts (V). These curves show that at each operating temperature (T(K)) of 253, 263, 273, and 277 Kelvin (K), the isothermal current density is very constant over the output voltage V(c) range of 0.00 to 4.00 V. Only when V(c) increases above 4.00 volts (V), reaching the limit of 4.10 volts (V), does the isothermal current density drop sharply to zero. The steady-state saturated isothermal current density at an output voltage of 3.50 volts (V) increases sharply with temperature, from 8.42x10 at 253K (-20°C) to 10. -4 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ) increases to 2.18x10 -3 , 5.26x10 at 273K (0℃) -3 , and 7.36x10 at 277K (4℃) -3 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ).

[0197] Figure 7cThe ideal isothermal electron generation current density (A / cm 2 ) as a function of ambient operating temperature (T(K)) and for a range of emitter work functions (WF(e)). The range of emitter WF(e) values ​​includes 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, 2.2, 2.4, 2.6, 2.8, 3.0, and 3.5 electron volts (eV). Each emitter WF(e) value is paired with a collector work function (WF(c) = 4.60 eV, graphene and / or graphite), with the emitter grounded. The data demonstrates that using emitters with lower work functions is a good approach for isothermal power generation from ambient heat. Therefore, according to one of the various embodiments, it is preferred to use an emitter with a low work function, wherein the emitter low work function is selected from 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.8, 2.2, 2.4, 2.6, 2.8, and 3.0 electron volts (eV), and / or any two ranges of these values, for isothermal power generation in the temperature range of 200-2000 Kelvin (K).

[0198] Figure 8 An example of an integrated isothermal electron generator system 1300 is given, comprising multiple pairs of emitters and collectors operating in series. Figure 8As shown, system 1300 includes four parallel conductive plates 1301, 1302, 1321, and 1332, with potential barrier spaces (e.g., vacuum spaces) 1304, 1324, and 1334 disposed between the conductive plates. Thus, the right side surface of first conductive plate 1301 is coated with a low work function (LWF) film (thin layer) 1303, which serves as a first emitter. The left side surface of second conductive plate 1302 is coated with a high work function (HWF) film 1309, which serves as a first collector, and the right side surface is coated with a low work function (LWF) film 1323, which serves as a second emitter. The left side surface of third conductive plate 1321 is coated with a high work function (HWF) film 1329, which serves as a second current collector, and the right side surface is coated with a low work function (LWF) film 1333, which serves as a third emitter. The left side surface of the fourth conductive plate 1332 is covered with a thin layer of high work function (HWF) film 1339, which serves as the third (terminal) collector. The first barrier space 1304 allows hot electrons 1305 to fly through the first pair of emitters 1303 and the collector 1309. The second barrier space 1324 allows hot electrons 1325 to fly through the second pair of emitters 1323 and the collector 1329. The third barrier space 1334 allows hot electrons 1335 to fly through the third pair of emitters 1333 and the collector 1339.

[0199] According to one of the various embodiments, it is preferred to adopt: Figure 8 As shown, first capacitor 1361 is connected between first conductive plate 1301 and second conductive plate 1302, second capacitor 1362 is connected between second and third conductive plates 1302 and 1321, and third capacitor 1363 is used between third and fourth conductive plates 1321 and 1332. Using capacitors in this manner generally provides improved system stability and robust isothermal electronic power delivery. In this example, with first conductive plate 1301 grounded, isothermal power can be delivered via power outlet terminals 1306 and 1376 or 1377, depending on specific output power requirements. When isothermal power is delivered through an emitter and collector pair via outlet terminals 1306 and 1376, the steady-state operating output voltage V(c) is typically approximately 3-4 volts (V), depending on the load resistance and work function difference between the emitter and collector, and system operating conditions. When isothermal electricity is delivered across the three pairs of emitter and collector electrodes through outlet terminals 1306 and 1377, the steady state operating output voltage is 3 x V(c), typically about 9-12 volts (V) in this example.

[0200] According to one example of various embodiments, the isothermal electrical ( Figure 8) can also be delivered through power outlet terminals 1376 and 1377. In this case, the V(c) voltage on second conductive plate 1302, generated by the activity of the first emitter (conductor 1301 with LWF film 1303) and the first collector (HWF plate 1309), can be used as a bias voltage for the second emitter (LWF film 1323 on the right side of second conductive plate 1302), thereby causing second emitter 1323 to more easily emit thermal electrons toward second collector 1329 on the left side of third conductive plate 1321. Subsequently, V(c) is generated at second collector 1329 of the third conductor, which can be used as a bias voltage for third emitter 1333 on the right side of third conductive plate 1321, thereby more easily emitting thermal electrons toward terminal collector 1339 on fourth conductive plate 1332, thereby promoting the generation of isothermal current and delivering isothermal electricity through outlet terminals 1376 and 1377. Therefore, using this special function can help to better extract ambient energy, especially when the operating environment temperature is low or the work function of some emitters alone may not be sufficient for fully efficient operation. When isothermal power is delivered through the output terminals 1376 and 1377, the steady-state operating output voltage is 2xV(c), which is typically about 6 to 8 volts (V) in this case.

[0201] Figure 9a An example of a prototype for an isothermal electron generator system 1400A is shown, which has a pair of emitters (with a work function of 0.7 eV) and current collectors (with a work function of 4.36 eV) mounted in a vacuum cavity. Figure 9a As shown, system 1400A includes a thin layer of low work function silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film 1403 coated on the right side surface of an electrically conductive plate 1401 to act as an emitter, allowing a hot electron fluid 1405 to fly ballistically through a vacuum space 1404 between the emitter and the collector. A high work function molybdenum (Mo) film 1439 is coated on the left side surface of the second electric conductor plate 1432 facing the emitter plate 1403 to serve as a collector, the vacuum tube wall 1450 is in contact with the edges of the electric conductor plates 1401 and 1432 to allow ambient heat energy to be transferred between the tube wall and the electric conductor plates 1401 (emitter) and 1432 (collector), a first power outlet socket 1406 connected to the first electric conductor plate 1401, a second power outlet socket 1477 connected to the second electric conductor plate 1432, a capacitor 1461 connected between the two power outlet sockets 1406 and 1477, and a ground 1410 connected to the first power outlet socket 1406.

[0202] Isothermal generator system 1400A( Figure 9a ) is similar to Figure 4b The prototype, and Figure 4bCompared to the prototype, the difference is that the vacuum tube wall 1450 is in effective thermal contact with the edges of the two electrical conductor plates 1401 and 1432 in system 1400A, which can more effectively transfer ambient heat from the tube wall to the emitter and collector system. Figure 4b Compared with the prototype, Figure 9a As shown, using ground wire 1410 and capacitor 1461 together with power outlet sockets 1406 and 1477 also provides more stable and better system performance for isothermal power generation and delivery.

[0203] As shown in Table 6, the work function of the molybdenum (Mo) film is about 4.36 eV, and the work function of the silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film can be any value between 0.5 and 1.2 electron volts (eV). Figure 9a In the example of the isothermal generator system 1400A shown, a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film with a work function of 0.7 eV is selected for use as the emitter, while a molybdenum (Mo) film with a work function of 4.36 eV is selected for use as the collector. Therefore, when isothermal electricity is delivered through output terminals 1406 and 1477, the steady-state operating output voltage can typically be approximately 3.5 volts (V). At a standard ambient temperature of 298 K (25°C), the saturated isothermal electron generation current density (at an output voltage of 3.5 volts (V)) is 1.55x10 -5 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 The ideal isothermal current density (A / cm2) of the system at various output voltages V(c) 2 ) as a function of the operating temperature T is also similar to the characteristic mode of a system with a pair of emitter work function (0.70 eV) and collector work function (4.56 eV, Cu(110)), shown in Figure 5b .

[0204] Figure 9b An example of a prototype for an isothermal generator system 1400B is shown, which has two pairs of emitters (with a work function of 0.7 eV) and current collectors (with a work function of 4.36 eV) mounted in a vacuum tube chamber. Figure 9bAs shown in FIG, system 1400B includes a thin, low-work-function (0.7 eV) silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film 1403 coated on the right side of a first conductive plate 1401, serving as a first emitter. A first vacuum space 1404 allows hot electrons 1405 to fly through the first pair of emitters and collectors. A high-work-function (4.36 eV) molybdenum (Mo) film / plate 1409, coated on the left side of a second conductive plate 1402 facing the first emitter, serves as a first current collector. A low-work-function silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) thin film 1423 covers the right side of the second conductive plate 1402, serving as a second emitter. A second vacuum space 1424 allows hot electrons 1425 to fly through the second pair of emitters and collectors. A high-work-function molybdenum (Mo) film / plate 1439 coated on the left side surface of the third conductive plate 1432 facing the second emitter serves as a terminal collector. A vacuum tube wall 1450 contacts the edges of the three conductive plates 1401, 1402, and 1432 to allow ambient heat to transfer from the tube wall to conductive plates 1401 (emitter), 1402 (collector / emitter), and 1432 (collector). A first power outlet socket 1406 is connected to the first conductive plate 1401. A second power outlet socket 1476 is connected to the second conductive plate 1402. A third power outlet socket 1477 is connected to the third conductive plate 1432. A first capacitor 1461 is connected between the first conductive plate 1401 and the second conductive plate 1402. A second capacitor 1462 is connected between the second and third conductive plates 1402 and 1432. A ground 1410 is connected to the first conductive plate 1401.

[0205] Isothermal Generator System 1400B( Figure 9b ) and System 1400A( Figure 9a ) is similar to the 1402, except that the left surface of the middle electrode plate 1402 is coated with a molybdenum (Mo) film 1409 and the right surface is coated with a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film, which serves as both the first collector and the second emitter. Therefore, the system has two pairs of emitters and collectors connected in series. According to Equation 18, when multiple (n) asymmetrically gated isothermal generators are used in series, the total steady-state output voltage (V st(total) ) is the sum of the output voltages from each asymmetric gated isothermal generator. Thus, when isothermal power is delivered through output terminals 1406 and 1477, the total steady-state output voltage (V st(total) ) is about 2×3.5 volts (V). However, at the standard ambient operating temperature of 298K (25°C), the total saturated isothermal electron generation current density (at an output voltage of 7 volts (V)) is still about 1.55x10 -5 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2).

[0206] Furthermore, the system 1400B design provides the option of delivering isothermal power through output terminals 1476 and 1477, leaving the V(c) voltage (approximately 3.5 volts (V)) generated by the first pair of emitter (silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film 1403) and collector (molybdenum (Mo) film / plate 1409) as a bias voltage for the second emitter (silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film 1423 on the right surface of the second conductive plate 1402), allowing it to more easily emit electrons toward the terminal collector (molybdenum (Mo) film / plate 1439) of the third conductive plate 1432. Using this option can sometimes help better extract ambient thermal energy, particularly when operating at low ambient temperatures or when the work function of a single emitter might not be sufficient for effective operation. In this example, when delivering isothermal power through output terminals 1476 and 1477, the steady-state operating output voltage is typically approximately 3.5 volts (V).

[0207] Figure 9c An example of a prototype for an integrated isothermal electron generator system 1400C is shown, which has three pairs of emitters (with a work function of 0.7 eV) and current collectors (with a work function of 4.36 eV) mounted in a vacuum tube. Figure 9cAs shown in , the system 1400 includes: a low work function (0.7 eV) silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) thin film 1403, which is coated on the right side surface of the first conductive plate 1401 to serve as a first emitter; a first vacuum space 1404, which allows a hot electron flow 1405 to fly ballistically between the first pair of emitters and collectors; a (high work function 4.36 eV) molybdenum (Mo) film / plate 1409 is coated on the left side surface of the second conductive plate 1402 facing the first emitter to serve as a first collector; a layer of low work function (0.7 eV) silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) thin film 1423 is coated on the right side surface of the second conductive plate 1402 to serve as a second emitter; a second vacuum space 1424 allows a hot electron flow 1425 to fly ballistically between the second pair of emitters and collectors. A (high work function 4.36eV) molybdenum (Mo) film / plate 1429 is coated on the left surface of the third conductive plate 1421 facing the second emitter to serve as the second collector; a low work function (0.7eV) silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) thin film 1433 is coated on the right surface of the third conductive plate 1421 to serve as the third emitter; the third vacuum space 1434 allows the thermal electron flow 1435 to fly ballistically between the third pair of emitters and collectors. A molybdenum (Mo) film / plate 1439 (work function 4.36 eV) is coated on the left side surface of the fourth conductive plate 1432 facing the third emitter to serve as a terminal collector plate; a vacuum tube wall 1450 contacts the edges of the conductive plates 1401, 1402, 1421, and 1432 to allow ambient heat to transfer from the tube wall to the conductive plates 1401 (emitter), 1402 (collector / emitter), 1421 (collector / emitter), and 1432 (collector); a first power outlet socket 1406 is connected to the first conductive plate 1401; a second power outlet socket 1476 is connected to the second conductive plate 1402; and a third power outlet socket 1477 is connected to the fourth conductive plate 1432. A first capacitor 1461 is connected between the first conductive plate 1401 and the second conductive plate 1402. A second capacitor 1462 is connected between the second and third conductive plates 1402 and 1421. The third capacitor 1463 is connected between the third conductive plate 1421 and the fourth conductive plate 1432. The ground 1410 is connected to the first conductive plate 1401.

[0208] like Figure 9cAs shown, the isothermal power in this example can be delivered through the output terminals 1406 and 1476 or 1477, depending on the specific output power requirements. When the isothermal power is delivered through the pair of emitter and collector output terminals 1406 and 1476, the steady-state operating output voltage is equal to V(c), which is typically about 3.5 volts (V) depending on the system operating conditions (including the impedance of the load and the difference in work function between the emitter and collector). At a standard ambient temperature of 298K (25°C), the saturated isothermal current density (at an output voltage of 7 volts (V)) is about 1.55x10 -5 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ).

[0209] According to Equation 18, when isothermal electricity is delivered across three pairs of emitter and collector via outlet terminals 1406 and 1477, the steady-state operating output voltage can typically be as high as about 10.5 volts (V). However, the total saturated isothermal current density (at an output voltage of 10.5 volts (V)) remains at about 1.55x10 -5 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ). In this example, the standard ambient temperature is 298K (25°C).

[0210] More importantly, when isothermal electricity is delivered through outlet terminals 1476 and 1477, the action of the first emitter (1401 with the silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film 1403) and the first collector (Mo film / plate 1409) can be used to generate a V(c) of approximately 3.5 volts (V), which acts as a bias voltage for the second emitter (silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film 1423) on the surface of the second conductor plate 1402. This makes the second emitter (silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film 1423) more likely to emit hot electrons toward the second collector (molybdenum (Mo) film / plate 1429) of the third conductor plate 1421. The enhanced V(c) generated at the third collector 1429 of the third conductor plate 1421 subsequently acts as a bias voltage, causing the third emitter to more readily emit hot electrons toward the collector terminal 1439 of the fourth conductor plate 1432. Therefore, using this special function can help to better extract ambient thermal energy, especially when the operating ambient temperature is relatively low or the work function of only some emitters may not be sufficient to fully function. When isothermal electricity is delivered through the outlet terminals 1476 and 1477, according to Equation 18, the steady-state operating output voltage can generally be about 7 volts (V). In this example, at a standard ambient temperature of 298K (25°C), the total saturated isothermal current density (at a 7 volt (V) output voltage) remains approximately 1.55x10 -5 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ).

[0211] According to one example of various embodiments, the system capacitance of a pair of parallel emitter and collector plates is in turn dependent on the separation distance (d) between them. Preferably, the capacitance between each pair of emitter and collector plates is increased by appropriately reducing the separation distance (d) between the emitter and collector surfaces from 100 millimeters (mm) to a scale as small as micrometers and / or submicrometers, with a gap size selected based on the specific application and operating conditions. This can eliminate the need for external capacitors. Furthermore, using a narrow (micrometer and / or submicrometer) spatial gap between the emitter and collector plates can also help limit the formation of static electronic space charge clouds in the inter-electrode space, resulting in better system performance. Figure 10 An example of an integrated isothermal generator system 1500 is shown, wherein each of three pairs of emitters and collectors mounted in a vertically arranged vacuum tube chamber has a narrow inter-electrode gap dimension (separation distance d). System 1500 ( Figure 10 ) includes the following components, which are installed in a vacuum tube cavity from top to bottom: an LWF (low work function) film 1503 coated on the bottom surface of a first electric conductor plate 1501 to serve as a first emitter, a first narrow space 1504 that allows thermally emitted electrons 1505 to fly ballistically between a first pair of emitter and collector electrodes, an HWF (high work function) film 1509 coated on the top surface of a second electric conductor 1502 to serve as a first collector, an LWF (low work function) film 1523 coated on the bottom surface of the second electric conductor 1502 to serve as a second emitter, and a second narrow space 1522 that allows thermally emitted electrons 1525 to fly ballistically between a second pair of emitter and collector electrodes. 4. A HWF (high work function) film 1529 coated on the upper surface of the third electric conductor 1521 serves as a second collector, a LWF film 1533 coated on the bottom surface of the third electric conductor 1521 serves as a third emitter, a third narrow space 1534 allows thermally emitted electrons 1535 to fly ballistically between the third pair of emitters and collectors, a HWF (high work function) film 1539 coated on the top surface of the fourth electric conductor 1532 serves as a terminal (third) collector, a first power outlet socket 1506 (+) and a ground line 1510 connected to the first conductive plate 1501, and a second power outlet socket 1537 (-) connected to the fourth conductor 1532.

[0212] Integrated Isothermal Generator System 1500( Figure 10 ) and System 1400C( Figure 9c), except that only the first conductor plate 1501 and the terminal conductor plate 1532 are wired to provide power outlet sockets 1506 and 1507. In this example, each of the second and third conductor plates between the first conductor plate 1501 and the terminal (fourth) conductor plate 1532 is designed to function simultaneously as a collector on its top surface and as an emitter on its bottom surface. For example, conductor plate 1502 faces upward on its top surface to receive the collector (HWF film 1509) of thermally emitted electrons 1505 from the first emitter (LWF film 1503) located above the narrow space 1504, and the emitter (LWF film 1523) on the bottom side emits thermal electrons 1525 downward. Meanwhile, the conductor plate 1521 has an upwardly directed HWF film 1529 on its top surface to receive thermally emitted electrons 1525 from the second emitter (LWF film 1523) located above the narrow space 1524, and an LWF film 1533 on its bottom to emit thermal electrons 1535 downwardly to the terminal current collector (HWF 1539) on the terminal conductor 1532. In this example, when isothermal electricity is transferred between three pairs of emitter and collector electrodes through the outlet terminals 1506 and 1537, the maximum total steady-state operating output voltage can typically be approximately 9-12 volts (V).

[0213] According to one of the various embodiments, Figure 10 As shown, a preferred method for using an asymmetric functional gated thermionic power generation system is to use its emitter facing downward while its collector plate, located at a lower position, faces upward so that gravity can be used to better collect the thermally emitted electrons from the emitter placed at a higher position. In this way, the system can use gravity to help pull electrons from the emitter above to the collector below. Although the effect of gravity may be small, it can help ensure that some thermally emitted electrons with almost zero kinetic energy propagate downward to the collector due to gravity. According to one of the various embodiments of the present invention, any thermally emitted electrons contribute equally well to the isothermal power generation after entering the collector.

[0214] For example, some emitted electrons may have very limited kinetic energy, insufficient to overcome the repulsive force of electrons on the collector electrode surface and immediately enter the collector electrode. The use of gravity provides two effects that benefit the collection of electrons from the emitter electrode. First, it can somewhat help accelerate electrons from the emitter downward to the collector electrode. Second, by using gravity, it helps localize some of these emitted electrons at (and / or near) the interface between the collector plate surface and the vacuum. Similarly, as previously demonstrated with localized protons, the use of localized electron population density can enhance the utilization of ambient heat to benefit thermal electron power generation. For example, because free electrons, including localized free electrons, can gain additional kinetic energy at the interface between the collector surface and the vacuum by absorbing infrared radiation from the environment, an increased concentration of localized electrons at the interface between the vacuum and the collector plate surface increases the likelihood that the localized electrons will eventually enter the collector electrode using their thermal motion energy. After an electron enters the collector, which typically has a relatively high work function, its contribution to thermionic power generation is essentially deterministic, regardless of its initial kinetic energy before or after entry.

[0215] According to one of the various embodiments, this special energy technology process for generating useful Gibbs free energy by utilizing the electron thermal kinetic energy associated with localized electrons has a special feature, namely, the localized electron kinetic potential (local emf) generated by the special utilization of ambient thermal energy. It can be calculated and expressed according to the following formula:

[0216]

[0217] Where R is the gas constant, T is the absolute temperature, and F is the Faraday constant. is the localized electron concentration at the interface between the collector surface and vacuum space, is the non-localized electron concentration in the bulk vacuum space.

[0218] With this localized electron motive force (emf) formula 22, it is now known for the first time that, as shown in equation 22, the localized emf is a function of the localized electron concentration at the interface Delocalized electron concentration in the vacuum volume According to one of the various embodiments, the appropriate application of this localized electromotive force can promote the entry of hot electrons into the collector through the interface between the interstitial space and the collector surface. For example, using a collector surface modified with positively charged molecular functional groups and / or utilizing gravity can bring emitted electrons to the interface between the interstitial space and the collector surface, where a localized electron motive force is formed, thereby helping to overcome the dipole barrier on the collector surface and promote the entry of hot electrons into the collector, thereby enhancing isothermal electron power generation.

[0219] According to one of the various embodiments, a plurality of emitter-collector pairs can be used as an integrated system, and the effect of isothermal electronic power generation is cumulative. Depending on the specific application and its related operating conditions (such as temperature conditions) and the properties of the barrier space (such as its thickness and composition, emitter and collector and other physicochemical characteristics), in order to isothermally extract ambient thermal energy to generate electricity, such as Figure 10 As shown, the number of emitter-collector pairs that can be used in each integrated system can be selected from: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 200, 300, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000, 100,000, 1,000,000, more and / or within any two of these values.

[0220] Figure 11 Another example of an integrated isothermal generator system 1600 is shown having three pairs of emitters and collectors mounted in a vertically arranged vacuum chamber to use gravity to help pull electrons from the emitters down to the collectors. Figure 11) includes the following components, which are installed in a vacuum tube container from top to bottom: an LWF (low work function) film 1603 is coated on the inner surface of the vacuum tube wall 1650 at the dome-shaped top end, serving as a first emitter, which has a power outlet socket 1606 (+) connected to a capacitor 1611, which is connected to the ground 1610, and a first vacuum space 1604 allows thermally emitted electrons 1605 to fly ballistically through, an HWF (high work function) film 1609 serves as a first collector on the top surface of the electric conductor 1602, and a low work function (LWF) film 1623 serves as an electric Conductor 1602 has a second emitter on its bottom surface, a second vacuum space 1624 allows thermally emitted electrons 1625 to pass through it ballistically, an HWF (high work function) film 1629 serves as a second collector on the top surface of conductor 1621, and an LWF film 1633 serves as a third emitter on the bottom surface of conductor 1621. Third vacuum space 1634 allows thermally emitted electrons 1635 to pass through it ballistically. HWF (high work function) film 1639 is coated on the inner surface of the inverted dome-shaped bottom end of the vacuum tube, serving as a terminal current collector connected to power outlet socket 1637 (-). When isothermal electricity is delivered through outlet terminals 1606 and 1637 via three pairs of emitter and collector electrodes, the maximum total steady-state operating output voltage in this example can typically be approximately 9 to 12 volts (V).

[0221] Integrated Isothermal Generator System 1600( Figure 11 ) and System 1500( Figure 10 ) is similar to the integrated isothermal generator system 1600, except that: 1) System 1600 uses the inner surface of the domed top of the vacuum tube chamber as the physical carrier for constructing the first emitter, which is coated with an LWF (low work function) film 1603; 2) The inner surface of the inverted dome-shaped bottom of the vacuum tube chamber is coated with an HWF (high work function) film 1639 to construct the terminal current collector; and 3) the first emitter has a power outlet socket 1606 (+) connected to a capacitor 1611, which is connected to ground 1610, while the terminal current collector is connected to a power outlet socket 1637 (-). These features make the integrated isothermal generator system 1600 more compact than system 1500. The optional use of capacitor 1611 between power outlet 1606 (+) and ground 1610 also provides an additional method to reduce and / or modulate the potential voltage at the emitter, thereby improving system performance.

[0222] According to one of the various embodiments, during isothermal power generation, an efficient transmitter such as those in systems 1300, 1400, 1500, and 1600, such as Figure 8-10 As shown, the system absorbs heat energy from the external environment and uses the environmental heat energy to emit electrons. It is important to provide effective heat conduction from the environment to the emitter. Figure 10) provides an example where ambient heat energy primarily flows through the pipe wall-conductive plate joint to the emitter on the conductive plate surface. Therefore, it is preferable to use thermally conductive materials when manufacturing the pipe wall, and more importantly, when manufacturing the pipe wall-conductive plate joint to ensure that the ambient heat energy is effectively transferred from the environment to the emitter.

[0223] Integrated Isothermal Generator System 1600( Figure 11 ) provides an example of an emitter that is constructed by coating a low work function (LWF) film 1603 on the inner surface of the dome-shaped top of a vacuum tube cavity. The contact between the inner surface of the dome-shaped top wall of the vacuum tube and the emitter can advantageously promote heat transfer from the tube wall environment to the emitter.

[0224] According to one of the various embodiments, the collector surface is engineered by adding certain positively charged molecular structures, such as protonated amine groups, to the surface. Protonated (poly)aniline having protonated amine groups (positive charge) on its surface, prepared by a protonation method using electrostatically localized excess protons, as disclosed in International Patent Application Publication WO 2017 / 007762 A1 and U.S. Patent Application Publication US 2017 / 0009357 A1, was selected for use as the collector electrode using the protonation method in this embodiment.

[0225] According to one of the various embodiments, positively charged groups on the surface of the collector electrode, such as protonated amine groups, provide a number of beneficial effects in promoting the collection of electrons emitted from the emitter electrode: 1) attracting electrons emitted from the emitter electrode, resulting in a localized electron cloud concentration near the collector surface 2) neutralize the negative surface dipole on the collector surface (if any); and 3) balance the negative surface potential generated by the accumulation of collected electrons in the collector for more electronic energy storage.

[0226] Figure 12a An example of an isothermal electron generator system 1700A is shown, which has a low work function (0.6 eV) silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film emitter and a high work function (4.42 eV) protonated polyaniline film collector, the emitter being mounted on the top end of a dome and the collector being mounted on the bottom end of the dome. System 1700A ( Figure 12a) includes the following components, which are installed in a chamber-type vacuum tube from top to bottom: a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film (emitter) 1703 coated on the inner surface of the dome-shaped top of the chamber, serving as an emitter; a chamber-type vacuum tube wall 1750; a protonated polyaniline film 1739 coated on the inner surface of the inverted dome-shaped bottom of the chamber-type vacuum tube, serving as a collector; a vacuum space 1704 that allows thermally emitted electrons 1705 to fly ballistically between the emitter 1703 and the collector 1739; a power outlet socket 1706 (+) connected to the emitter 1703; and a power outlet socket 1737 (-) connected to the collector 1739. When isothermal power is supplied through the outlet terminal sockets 1706 and 1737, the steady-state operating output voltage is typically about 3.5 volts (V). In this example, at a standard ambient temperature of 298K (25°C), the maximum saturated isothermal electron generation current density (at an output voltage of 3.5 volts (V)) is 7.59x10 -4 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ).

[0227] Figure 12b An example of an integrated isothermal generator system 1700B is shown, which has two pairs of emitters and collectors in series, which use the low work function (0.6 eV) of silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) and the high work function (4.42 eV) of protonated polyaniline. System 1700B ( Figure 12b ) includes the following components installed in the vacuum tube chamber from top to bottom: a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film 1703 coated on the inner surface of the dome-shaped top end of the vacuum tube serves as an emitter, a vacuum tube chamber wall 1750, a first emitter having a power outlet socket 1706 (+), allowing thermally emitted electrons 1705 to fly ballistically through the vacuum space 1704, a protonated polyaniline film 1709 coated on the top surface of the middle electrical conductor 1702 serves as a first collector, a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film 1723 at the bottom surface of the middle electrical conductor 1702 serves as a second emitter, allowing thermally emitted electrons 1735 to flow ballistically through the second vacuum space 1734, and a protonated polyaniline film 1739 on the inverted dome-shaped bottom end surface of the vacuum tube serves as a terminal current collector connected to the power outlet socket 1737 (-). When isothermal electricity is delivered through outlet terminals 1706 and 1737, the steady-state operating output voltage can typically be about 7 volts (V) according to Equation 18. In this example, at a standard ambient temperature of 298K (25°C), the saturated isothermal current density (at an output voltage of 7 volts (V)) is about 7.59x10 -4 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ).

[0228] Figure 12cAn example of an integrated isothermal generator system 1700C is shown with three pairs of low work function (0.6 eV) silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitters and high work function (4.42 eV) protonated polyaniline collecting electrodes operating in series. System 1700C ( Figure 12c ) includes the following components installed in the vacuum tube cavity from top to bottom: a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film (emitter) 1703 coated on the inner surface of the dome-shaped top of the vacuum tube wall becomes the first emitter; a vacuum tube chamber wall 1750; a protonated polyaniline film 1709 (collector) is coated on the upper surface of the first intermediate conductor 1702, serving as the first collector; a first vacuum space 1704 allows thermally emitted electrons 1705 to fly ballistically between the first emitter and the first collector; a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film 1723 on the bottom surface of the first intermediate conductor 1702 serves as the second emitter; a protonated polyaniline film 1729 covers the second intermediate conductor 1721 On the upper surface, a second collector is provided; a second vacuum space 1724 allows thermally emitted electrons 1725 to fly ballistically between the second emitter and the second collector; a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film 1733 is coated on the bottom surface of the second intermediate electrical conductor 1721 to serve as a third emitter; a protonated polyaniline film 1739 is coated on the inner surface of the inverted dome-shaped bottom end of the vacuum tube to serve as a third (terminal) collector; a third vacuum space 1734 allows thermally emitted electrons 1735 to fly ballistically between the third emitter and the terminal collector; a first power outlet socket 1706 (+) is connected to the first emitter 1703; and a second power outlet socket 1737 (-) is connected to the third (terminal) collector. When isothermal electricity is transferred between three pairs of emitter and collector electrodes via power outlet terminals 1706 and 1737, the maximum total steady-state operating output voltage can typically be approximately 10.5 volts (V) according to Equation 18. In this example, at a standard ambient temperature of 298 K (25°C), the saturated isothermal current density (at an output voltage of 10.5 volts (V)) is approximately 7.59x10 -4 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ).

[0229] According to one of the various embodiments, an isothermal electron-based ambient thermal energy utilization system includes the low work function of silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) and the high work function of Cu metal. Figure 13a Another example of an isothermal electron generator system 1800A is shown, which has a low work function (0.7 eV) silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitter and a high work function (4.56 eV) Cu metal collector mounted in a chamber-shaped vacuum tube. System 1800A ( Figure 13a) includes the following components, which are installed in a chamber-shaped vacuum tube from top to bottom: a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film (emitter) 1803 coated on the inner surface of the dome-shaped top end of the chamber serves as an emitter; a dome-shaped vacuum tube wall 1850; a vacuum space 1804 allows thermally emitted electrons 1805 to fly ballistically between the emitter 1803 and the collector 1839; a Cu film / plate 1839 is covered on the inner surface of the inverted dome-shaped bottom end of the chamber-shaped vacuum tube to serve as a collector 1839; a first power outlet socket 1806 (+) is connected to the emitter 1803; and a second power outlet 1837 (-) is connected to the collector 1839. When isothermal electricity is transmitted through the outlet terminals 1806 and 1837, the maximum total steady-state operating output voltage is typically about 3.5 volts (V). In this example, at a standard ambient temperature of 298K (25°C), the saturated isothermal electron generation current density (at an output voltage of 3.5 volts (V)) is about 1.55x10 -5 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ).

[0230] Figure 13b Another example of an integrated isothermal electron generator system 1800B is shown, which has two pairs of low work function silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) (0.7 eV) emitters and high work function Cu metal (4.56 eV) collectors operating in series. System 1800B ( Figure 13b ) includes the following components installed in a vacuum tube cavity from top to bottom: a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film (emitter) 1803 coated on the inner surface of the dome-shaped top of the vacuum tube cavity as a first emitter; a vacuum tube cavity wall 1850; a first vacuum space 1804 that allows thermally emitted electrons 1805 to fly ballistically between the first pair of emitters and collectors; a Cu film 1809 covering the top surface of the intermediate conductor 1802 as a first collector; a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film (emitter) 1803 coated on the inner surface of the dome-shaped top of the vacuum tube cavity as a first emitter; a vacuum tube cavity wall 1850; a first vacuum space 1804 that allows thermally emitted electrons 1805 to fly ballistically between the first pair of emitters and collectors; a Cu film 1809 covering the top surface of the intermediate conductor 1802 as a first collector; 1823 is coated on the bottom surface of the intermediate conductor 1802 to serve as a second emitter; the second vacuum space 1834 allows thermally emitted electrons 1835 to fly ballistically between the second pair of emitters 1823 and the collector 1839; the inner surface of the inverted dome-shaped bottom end of the vacuum tube chamber is covered with a Cu film 1839 to serve as a terminal collector; a first power outlet socket 1806 (+) is connected to the first emitter 1803; and the second power outlet socket 1837 (-) is connected to the terminal collector 1839.

[0231] When isothermal electricity is transmitted across two pairs of emitter and collector electrodes through power outlet terminals 1806 and 1837, the maximum total steady-state operating output voltage ( Figure 13b) is typically about 7 volts (V). In this example, at a standard ambient temperature of 298K (25°C), the total saturated isothermal electron generation current density (at an output voltage of 7 volts (V)) is about 1.55x10 -5 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ).

[0232] Figure 13c Another example of an integrated isothermal electron generator system 1800C is shown, which has three pairs of low work function (0.7 eV) silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitters and high work function (4.56 eV) Cu metal collectors operated in series. System 1800C ( Figure 13c ) includes the following components installed in a vacuum tube from top to bottom: a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film (emitter) 1803 coated on the inner surface of the dome-shaped top end of the vacuum tube wall serves as a first emitter with an electric power outlet 1806 (+); a vacuum tube wall 1850; a first vacuum space 1804 allowing thermally emitted electrons 1805 to fly ballistically through; a Cu film 1809 on the top surface of the conductor 1802 serves as an electric first collector; a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film 1823 on the bottom surface of the electric conductor 1802 serves as a first collector. The tube features two emitters; a second vacuum space 1824 that allows thermally emitted electrons 1825 to fly through; a Cu film / plate 1829 on the upper surface of conductor 1821 that serves as a second collector; a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film 1833 on the lower surface of conductor 1821 that serves as a third emitter; a third vacuum space 1834 that allows thermally emitted electrons 1835 to fly through; and a Cu film 1839 coated on the inner surface of the inverted dome-shaped bottom end of the tube that serves as a terminal collector connected to the power outlet socket 1837 (-). When isothermal electricity is transmitted across the three pairs of emitter and collector electrodes via outlet terminals 1806 and 1837, the maximum total steady-state operating output voltage is typically approximately 10.5 volts (V). In this example, at a standard ambient temperature of 298 K (25°C), the total saturated isothermal electron generation current density (at an output voltage of 10.5 volts (V)) is approximately 1.55x10 -5 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ).

[0233] According to one of the various embodiments, an isothermal electron-based ambient thermal energy utilization system includes a low work function of silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) and a high work function of gold (Au) metal. Figure 14 Another example of an integrated isothermal generator system 1900 is shown, which employs three pairs of very low work function silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) (0.5 eV) emitters and high work function gold (Au) metal (5.10 eV) collectors operating in series. System 1900 ( Figure 14) includes the following components installed in a vacuum tube cavity from top to bottom: a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film (emitter) 1903 coated on the inner surface of the dome-shaped top of the vacuum tube cavity as a first emitter with a power outlet socket 1906 (+); a vacuum tube cavity wall 1950; a first vacuum space 1904 allowing thermally emitted electrons 1905 to fly ballistically between the first pair of emitters 1903 and the collector 1909; a gold (Au) film 1909 coated on the upper surface of the first intermediate conductor 1902 as a first collector; a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film 1923 coated on the bottom surface of the first intermediate conductor 1902 as a second emitter; a second vacuum space 192 Thermally emitted electrons 1925 are allowed to fly ballistically between the second pair of emitters 1923 and the collector 1929. A gold (Au) film 1929 is coated on the upper surface of the second intermediate conductor 1921, serving as the second collector. A silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film 1933 is coated on the bottom surface of the second intermediate conductor 1921, serving as the third emitter. A third vacuum space 1934 allows thermally emitted electrons 1935 to fly ballistically between the third pair of emitters 1933 and the collector 1939. A gold (Au) film 1939 is formed on the inner surface of the inverted dome-shaped bottom end of the vacuum tube chamber, serving as a terminal collector connected to a power outlet socket 1937 (-). When isothermal electricity is transmitted between the three pairs of emitters and collectors via outlet terminals 1906 and 1937, the maximum total steady-state operating output voltage can typically be approximately 12 volts (V). In this example, at a standard ambient temperature of 298K (25°C), the total saturated isothermal electron generation current density (at an output voltage of 12 volts (V)) is approximately 33.73x10 -2 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ).

[0234] According to one of the various embodiments, an isothermal electron-based ambient thermal energy utilization system includes a low-work-function doped graphene emitter and a high-work-function graphite collector. Figure 15 Another example of an integrated isothermal generator system 2000 is shown, which utilizes the low work function of doped graphene (1.01 eV) and the high work function of graphite (4.60 eV). System 2000 ( Figure 15) includes the following components installed in the vacuum tube from top to bottom: a doped graphene film (emitter) 2003 coated on the inner surface of the dome-shaped top end of the vacuum tube wall 2050, serving as a first emitter having an electric power outlet 2006 (+); a first vacuum space 2004 allowing thermally emitted electrons 2005 to fly ballistically through; a graphite film 2009 on the top surface of a first intermediate electrical conductor 2002 serving as a collector; a doped graphene film 2023 on the bottom surface of the first intermediate electrical conductor 2002 serving as a second emitter; The tube allows thermally emitted electrons 2025 to fly through a second vacuum space 2024. A graphite film 2029 on the upper surface of the second intermediate conductor 2021 serves as a second collector. A doped graphene film 2033 on the lower surface of the second intermediate conductor 2021 serves as a third emitter. The tube allows thermally emitted electrons 2035 to fly through a third vacuum space 2034. The inner surface of the inverted dome-shaped bottom end of the tube is covered with a layer of graphite film 2039, which serves as a terminal collector for connection to the power outlet socket 2037 (-). When isothermal electricity is transmitted across the three pairs of emitter and collector electrodes through outlet terminals 2006 and 2037, the maximum total steady-state operating output voltage can typically be approximately 9 volts (V). The ideal saturated isothermal electron generation current density (at an output voltage of 9 volts (V)) at the following operating temperatures is: 1.30x10 at 298K (25°C). -10 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ), 5.14x10 at 373K (100℃) -7 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ), 5.94x10 at 473K (200℃) -4 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ), at 573K (300℃) it is 6.31x10 -2 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ), at 673K ​​(400℃) it is 1.76 amperes per square centimeter (A / cm 2 ), at 763K (490℃) it is 17.3 amperes per square centimeter (A / cm 2 ), at 823K (550℃) it is 61.1 amperes per square centimeter (A / cm 2 ) and 154 amperes per square centimeter (A / cm2) at 873K (600°C) 2 ).

[0235] According to one of the various embodiments, an isothermal electron-based ambient thermal energy utilization system includes a low-work-function doped graphene emitter and a high-work-function graphene collector. Figure 16Another example of an integrated isothermal generator system 2100 is shown, which employs multiple pairs of low work function doped graphene (1.01 eV) emitters and high work function graphene (4.60 eV) collectors. System 2100 ( Figure 16 ) includes the following components installed in a vacuum tube chamber from top to bottom: a doped graphene film (emitter) 2103 coated on the inner surface of the dome-shaped top end of the vacuum tube chamber wall 2150 serves as a first emitter with an electric power outlet 2106 (+); a first vacuum space 2104 allowing thermally emitted electrons 2105 to fly ballistically through the first pair of emitters 2103 and a collector 2109; a graphene film 2109 located on the top surface of a first intermediate electrical conductor 2102 serves as a first collector; a doped graphene film 2123 coated on the bottom surface of the first intermediate electrical conductor 2102 serves as a second emitter; a second vacuum space 2124 allows Thermally emitted electrons 2125 are allowed to ballistically fly between the second pair of emitters 2123 and the collector 2129. A graphene film 2129 is coated on the top surface of the second intermediate conductor 2121, serving as the second collector. A doped graphene film 2133 is coated on the bottom surface of the second intermediate conductor 2121, serving as the third emitter. A third vacuum space 2134 allows thermally emitted electrons 2135 to ballistically fly between the third pair of emitters 2133 and the collector 2139. Furthermore, a graphene film 2139 is coated on the inner surface of the inverted dome-shaped bottom end of the vacuum tube chamber, serving as a terminal collector connected to a power outlet socket 2137 (-). When isothermal electricity is supplied through outlet terminals 2106 and 2137, in this example, the maximum total steady-state operating output voltage of the isothermal electron power generation generated by the three pairs of emitters and collectors operating in series can typically be approximately 9 volts (V). The total ideal saturated isothermal electron generation current density (at an output voltage of 9 volts (V)) at the following operating temperatures is: 1.30x10 at 298K (25°C) -10 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ), 5.14x10 at 373K (100℃) -7 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ), 5.94x10 at 473K (200℃) -4 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ), at 573K (300℃) it is 6.31x10 -2 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ), at 673K ​​(400℃) it is 1.76 amperes per square centimeter (A / cm 2 ), at 763K (490℃) it is 17.3 amperes per square centimeter (A / cm 2 ), at 823K (550℃) it is 61.1 amperes per square centimeter (A / cm2 ), at 873K (600℃) it is 154 amperes per square centimeter (A / cm 2 ), at 923K (650℃), it is 354 amperes per square centimeter (A / cm 2 ) and 750 amperes per square centimeter (A / cm2) at 973K (700°C) 2 ).

[0236] According to one example of various embodiments, any isothermal electronic generator system disclosed herein can be modified for various applications. For example, a typical smartphone device (e.g., iPhone 6) consumes about 10.5 watt-hours per day (24 hours). Using certain isothermal electronic generator systems disclosed in the present invention can enable a new generation of smart mobile electronic devices that can use the potential (existing hidden) thermal energy from the environment at ambient temperature to generate isothermal electronic power, continuously and permanently powering smart mobile devices (e.g., smartphones) without the need for any conventional power supply. For example, using a 40 square centimeter (cm2) area disclosed herein 2 ) chip-sized asymmetric function-gated isothermal generator system with an isothermal electronic power generation current output of 3 volts (V) and 200 milliamperes (mA), which is enough to provide permanent and continuous power supply for smart mobile phone devices.

[0237] According to one of the various embodiments, a highly optimized isothermal electron-generating generator system, such as the integrated isothermal electron-generating generator system 1900, employs a very low work function (0.5 eV) silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film and a high work function (5.10 eV) gold (Au) metal film ( Figure 14 As shown in Figure 3, its isothermal electron generator activity is powerful enough to extract ambient thermal energy from a low-temperature environment of –20°C (T=253K). Therefore, this highly optimized isothermal electron generator system can be used to provide novel cooling for new freezers and / or refrigerators, while generating isothermal electricity by isothermally extracting ambient thermal energy from the interior of the cold box (heat source). Optimizing and utilizing materials with extremely low work functions (0.5eV), such as silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) thin films as emitters, is crucial for extracting ambient thermal energy from the inner surface of the cold box in this application. The collector work function material used for this application does not need to be gold (Au) film; other work function materials with a work function of approximately 4.6eV can also be used, such as copper (Cu) metal films, graphene, and / or graphite conductors.

[0238] like Figure 7b As shown, for a pair of emitter work function of 0.50eV and collector work function of 4.60eV, the isothermal electron generation current density (A / cm 2The curve of the change of the output voltage V(c) shows that this type of isothermal electron generator system can even operate at refrigerated and / or frozen low temperatures of 253, 263, 273 and 277 Kelvin (K). At an output voltage of 3.50 volts (V), the steady-state ideal isothermal electron power generation saturation current density is: 8.42x10 at 253K (-20℃) -4 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ), 2.18x10 at 263K (-10℃) -3 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ), 5.26x10 at 273K (0℃) -3 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ) and 7.36x10 at 277K (4℃) -3 Ampere / square centimeter (A / cm 2 ). Therefore, in this example, the cooling power of the isothermal electron generator is defined as the value of watts (W) per square centimeter of the cross-sectional area of ​​the emitter-collector space: 2.88x10 at 253K (-20℃) -3 Watt / square centimeter (W / cm 2 ), at 263K (-10℃), it is 7.63x10 -3 Watt / square centimeter (W / cm 2 ), at 273K (0℃), it is 1.84x10 -2 Watt / square centimeter (W / cm 2 ), at 277K (4℃) it is 2.58x10 -2 Watt / square centimeter (W / cm 2 A typical household-sized freezer / refrigerator, which typically requires 72.5 watts (W) of electricity to operate, has a height of 174 cm, a depth of 80 cm, and a width of 91 cm. Its total surface area is 74,068 square centimeters (cm 2 Even at a low temperature of 253 Kelvin (-20°C), the cooling power density of this asymmetric function gated isothermal generator is 2.88x10 -3 Watt / square centimeter (W / cm 2 ). Only 50% of the refrigerator surface area is used (74,068 x 50% x 2.88 x 10 -3 =106 watts (W)), it can output a maximum of 106 watts of power, which, combined with the novel 106 watts of cooling power, is enough to provide ample cooling and power for the entire home's freezer / refrigerator, which typically requires 72.5 watts (W) of power to operate.

[0239] According to one example of various embodiments, an asymmetric functionally gated optimized isothermal electron generator system having a pair of extremely low work function (0.5 eV) silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film emitters and a high work function (4.60 eV) graphene collector can be used to provide novel cooling for a novel refrigerator / refrigerator by isothermally extracting ambient thermal energy from the interior of the refrigerator / refrigerator while generating isothermal electricity, without the need for any compressor, condenser, evaporator and / or radiator, etc. of a conventional refrigeration mechanism.

[0240] Furthermore, the use of certain isothermal electronic generator systems according to one of the various embodiments can generate electricity by utilizing waste heat from a variety of waste heat sources, including but not limited to waste heat from electrical equipment such as electronic computers, waste heat from motor vehicle engines, waste heat from engines, waste heat from air conditioning heat exchange systems, waste heat from combustion-based power plants, waste heat from combustion systems, waste heat from heat-based distillation systems, waste heat from nuclear power plants, geothermal heat sources, and waste heat generated by solar and photovoltaic panels.

[0241] Figures 17-19 show other prototypes of an isothermal electron generator system, which includes a pair of low-work-function silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film emitter plates (size: 40 millimeters (mm) x 46 millimeters (mm)) and a high-work-function copper (Cu) film collector plate (size: 40 mm x 46 mm) mounted on a screw cap ( Figure 19a ) or non-nut ( Figure 19b The prototype batteries were manufactured in a private partnership with a private lighting and electrical equipment manufacturing company in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.

[0242] Figure 17a Photographs showing a pair of silver (Ag) and copper (Cu) electrode plates (size: 40 mm x 46 mm) supported by an aluminum insulating plate with electrically insulating plastic spacers (washers), with four corner screws and nuts at each of the two electrode plates fastened together to form a pair of silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) type emitters (CsOAg) and copper (Cu) current collectors with or without oxygen plasma treatment. Figure 17bThis image shows a pair of parallel aluminum plates supporting silver (Ag) and copper (Cu) collector electrodes (size: 40 mm x 46 mm) secured together with electrically insulating plastic spacers (washers) at the electrode plate corners, and metal screws and nuts insulated with heat-shrink plastic tubing. The Ag plates and Cu collector plates are brazed with copper wires coated with red and blue insulators, respectively. A thin molecular layer of cesium oxide (CsO) is applied to the Ag electrode surface by painting with a dilute cesium oxide solution and then drying to form a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitter type with or without oxygen plasma treatment. This image shows how to assemble a prototype pair of silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitters (CsOAg) and Cu collectors.

[0243] Figure 18 A photograph shows the components of a prototype CsOAg-Cu battery. The battery consists of a pair of parallel aluminum plates supporting a CsOAg (silver (Ag) film coated with CsO) emitter plate and a copper (Cu) collector plate. Red and blue insulator-coated copper wires are installed through a screw-on cap. Two blue plastic air tubes are installed through two additional holes in the screw cap. Electrically insulating and airtight white silicone (Kafuter 704RTV) is used to seal the joints between the wires and tubes passing through the cap. This shows how the prototype CsOAg-Cu battery is assembled.

[0244] Figure 19a A photo shows four prototype CsOAg-Cu batteries fabricated using screw-cap bottle caps. Each battery consists of a pair of parallel aluminum-supported CsOAg (a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs)) emitter and copper (Cu) collector plates, mounted on electrode surfaces with wires coated with red and blue insulators passing through the screw cap. After mounting and sealing with electrically insulating and airtight white silicone (Kafuter 704RTV), air was removed from each battery using a vacuum pump through the blue plastic tubing included with the bottle cap. Figure 19b Shown are photos of 17 CsOAg-Cu prototype batteries made using non-threaded cap bottles and sealed with electrically insulating and airtight white silicone (Kafuter 704RTV) material.

[0245] The following methods and steps were used to fabricate these CsOAg-Cu prototype batteries ( Figure 19a and 19b): a) A 1.0 mm thick aluminum plate (size: 160 mm x 184 mm, thickness 1.0 mm) is used as the mechanical support plate material; b) A prefabricated copper (Cu) film (35-micrometer (μm) thick) is mechanically extruded onto the aluminum plate (size: 160 mm (mm) x 184 mm (mm), thickness 1.0 mm (mm)) with a layer of 0.2 mm (mm) of viscous thermally conductive and electrically insulating gel to form a copper film (35 μm thick)-insulating gel (0.2 mm thick)-aluminum sheet (1 mm thick) structure; c) A 10 μm (μm) thick silver (Ag) film is then electroplated onto the copper film (35 μm thick)-insulating gel (0.2 mm thick)-aluminum sheet (1 mm thick) structure using a silver strip plating solution containing silver nitrate and potassium cyanide (highly toxic and must be handled carefully by trained professionals using protective equipment) to produce a 160 mm x 184 mm silver (Ag) film (thickness 10 microns (μm)) - copper (Cu) film (thickness 35 microns (μm)) - insulating glue (thickness 0.2 mm) - aluminum sheet (thickness 1 mm) structure; d) mechanically cutting 160 mm x 184 mm copper (Cu) film insulating gel aluminum sheet to produce small pieces with a size of 40 mm x 46 mm for use as high work function copper (Cu) collector plates; e) similarly, cutting 160 mm x 184 mm silver (Ag) film (thickness 10 microns (μm)) - copper (Cu) film (thickness 35 microns (μm)) - insulating gel (thickness 0.2 mm) - aluminum sheet (thickness 1 mm) into production pieces with a size of 40 mm x 46 mm small pieces, used as silver (Ag) plates; f) by coating the surface of the silver (Ag) electrode plate with a dilute (10 millimolar (mM)) Cs2O solution and then drying (thereby forming a thin molecular layer of cesium oxide (Cs2O) on the surface of the silver (Ag) electrode plate. Alternatively, the surface of the silver (Ag) plate is treated with oxygen plasma to coat it with vaporized cesium (Cs) atoms) to produce a low work function silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitter plate; g) A small hole (3 mm in diameter) was made near each of the four corners of each 40 mm x 46 mm electrode plate using a mechanical punch; h) Each silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitter plate was connected by soldering to a copper wire coated with red insulator (a single 16-gauge copper wire with a red insulator coating); i) Similarly, each copper collector plate was connected by soldering to a copper wire coated with blue insulator (a single 16-gauge copper wire with a blue insulator coating). j) As Figure 17bAs shown, each pair of low work function silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitter plates (size: 40 mm x 46 mm) and high work function copper (Cu) collector plates (size: 40 mm x 46 mm) are respectively connected using a set of four heat shrink plastic insulator tubes insulated metal screws, four insulating plastic washers / spacers and four nuts (or using a set of electrically insulating plastic spacers (washers), screws and nuts, as shown). Figure 17a As shown), assemble them in parallel with a distance of 5 mm, and tighten the screws and nuts at the four corners of the two electrode plates; k) as shown Figure 18 As shown, a pair of 3 mm diameter holes are made in each bottle cap (usually made of stainless steel and / or plastic) to allow the red and blue wires to pass through; l) Two 8 mm diameter holes are made in the bottle cap to allow a pair of blue plastic (or stainless steel) tubes to pass through (to facilitate vacuuming later); m) The assembled pair of silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitter plates and copper (Cu) collector plates are then inserted into the glass bottle, with the insulated red and blue wires passing through the 3 mm diameter holes in the bottle cap ( Figure 18 ) n) Seal all joints of wires and all tubes in the bottle cap with sealed electrically insulating silicone gel material (Kafuter 704RTV) ( Figure 18 and 19); o) After installation, use a vacuum pump to extract air from each battery through the blue plastic tube (or stainless steel tube) on the bottle cap, and seal each battery under vacuum conditions by closing the rubber valve of the air tube (Figure 19); p) Quality inspection: For example, measure the electrical insulation of all metal bolts by using 0.2 mm thick insulating glue to insulate the silver (Ag) film / copper (Cu) film from the supporting aluminum plate, and by heating the shrink plastic insulating tube to insulate the metal screws from the silver (Ag) film / copper (Cu) film plate, and check each pair of electrode plates.

[0246] Therefore, although metal screws / nuts such as Figure 17b The CsOAg film emitter and copper (Cu) film current collector are shown in contact with the supporting aluminum plate, but they are still well insulated from both the metal screw and the supporting aluminum plate. In this example, for a typical CsOAg-Cu battery prototype, the insulator resistance measured between a pair of CsOAg film emitter terminal wires (red) and copper (Cu) film collector terminal wires (blue) exceeds 50 megohms (MΩ).

[0247] As shown in Figure 20, the isothermal electron generation activity in each CsOAg-Cu prototype battery was measured using a Keithley 6514 electrometer (Keithley Instruments, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, USA). During the experimental measurement, the prototype battery consisted of a pair of low-work-function silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitter plates (size: 40 mm x 46 mm) and a high-work-function copper (Cu) collector plate (size: 40 mm x 46 mm) mounted in a sealed glass bottle and placed in a 33 cm x 30 cm x 42 cm Faraday box made of heavy-duty aluminum foil to reduce potential electrical interference from the surrounding environment. Figure 20a As shown in Figure 1, the red alligator clip of the Keithley 6514 electrometer is connected to the wire (red) of the silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitter plate, while the black alligator clip of the electrometer is connected to the wire (black) of the copper (Cu) collector plate. Figure 20b As shown, the metal Faraday box, which is typically connected to ground via the green alligator clip (ground lead) of the Keithley 6514 electrometer, is closed on all sides to shield the prototype battery device to minimize potential electrical interference from the surrounding environment during measurements of the isothermal electron generation activity.

[0248] like Figure 20b As shown in , for example, the isothermal power generation is measured by a Keithley 6514 electrometer reading of "20.9444PA.CZ". This indicates that the isothermal current ( ) of the prototype battery device was measured at room temperature (21°C) using the zero calibration and zero (baseline) correction (CZ) functions of the Keithley 6514 electrometer and a well-established amperometric measurement procedure. Figure 20a ) is approximately 20.94 picoamperes (pA).

[0249] The isothermal power generation performance of several prototype CsOAg-Cu batteries was experimentally tested. Table 10 lists examples of experimental isothermal power generation results obtained at 23°C using a Keithley 6514 system electrometer for an exemplary isothermal power generator (electrode sample "CsOAg-Cu 1") and a control electrode sample "CK Ag-Cu." The control battery "CK Ag-Cu" has the same structure as the battery "CsOAg-Cu 1," except that the Ag plate of the control battery "CK Ag-Cu" is not coated with cesium oxide (Cs2O). In experiments using an amperometric measurement procedure with a zero check and zero (baseline) correction (CZ) using the Keithley 6514 electrometer, the following batteries were tested: 1) using the "CsOAg-Cu 1" battery; 2) a Keithley 6514 system 237-ALG-2 low-noise cable with three alligator clips (no battery assembly); and 3) the control battery "CK Ag-Cu." Experimental measurements based on 12 readings from a Keithley 6514 system electrometer revealed that the isothermal current of the CsOAg-Cu 1 battery was 11.17 ± 0.08 picoamperes (pA). This is significantly higher than the baseline electrometer signal of 0.071 ± 0.17 picoamperes (pA) measured using a Keithley 6514 system's 237-ALG-2 low-noise cable with three alligator clips (without a battery setup). The current reading for the control battery, CK Ag-Cu, was -0.360 ± 0.005 picoamperes (pA), significantly different from the 11.17 ± 0.08 picoamperes (pA) for the CsOAg-Cu 1 battery. These experimental results clearly demonstrate isothermal electron generation in the prototype CsOAg-Cu 1 battery.

[0250] When measuring isothermal electron generation in the prototype battery "CsOAg-Cu 1" in reverse polarity, with the black alligator clip connector of a 237-ALG-2 low-noise cable from a Keithley 6514 system electrometer connected to a CsOAg board (a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitter) and its red alligator clip connector connected to a wire on a copper (Cu) collector board, the measured isothermal current was -10.77±0.17 picoamperes (pA), significantly different from the current signal value (0.220±0.003 picoamperes (pA)) measured in the reverse direction for the control battery "CK Ag-Cu" (see "rev, pA.CZ" in Table 10). These experimental results clearly demonstrate that isothermal electron generation in the prototype battery "CsOAg-Cu 1" is consistent with expectations.

[0251] Note that the isothermal electron flux (J) perpendicular to the emitter and collector surfaces isoTThe current density (also known as the isothermal current density) can be calculated as the ratio of the isothermal current (11.17 ± 0.08 pA) to the surface area of ​​the CsOAg plate (4.0 x 4.6 = 18.4 cm2). As shown in Table 10, the current density of the CsOAg plate surface area of ​​the battery "CsOAg-Cu 1" is 0.607 picoamperes per square centimeter (pA / cm2) when measured in the normal positive polarity direction. 2 ), measured in the reverse polarity direction, is -0.586 picoamperes per square centimeter (pA / cm 2 By taking its absolute value, the average current density in the battery "CsOAg-Cu 1" is calculated to be 0.596 picoamperes per square centimeter (pA / cm 2 Based on this isothermal electron flux (J isoT ) is 0.596 picoamperes per square centimeter at 23°C. In this example, the work function of the CsOAg emitter plate surface in the battery "CsOAg-Cu 1" is estimated to be about 1.1 electron volts (eV).

[0252] Table 10 lists the experimental isothermal electron generation results obtained from the isothermal generator (battery "CsOAg-Cu 1") and the control battery "CK Ag-Cu" at 23°C using the zero check and zero baseline correction (CZ) functions of the Keithley 6514 electrometer.

[0253]

[0254]

[0255] Table 11 lists the isothermal power generation experimental results of another isothermal electron generator (battery "(3) CsOAg-Cu"), which were measured according to the operating temperature. The prototype "(3) CsOAg-Cu" battery was tested using the standard ampere and voltage measurement method of the Keithley 6514 electrometer zero check and zero (baseline) correction (CZ). Based on 12 measurement readings of the Keithley 6514 system electrometer, the average isothermal electron generation current of the battery "(3) CsOAg-Cu" at 20.5℃, 23℃ and 25℃ was measured to be: 2.12±0.03, 5.81±0.03 and 7.35±0.02 picoamperes (pA), respectively. The experimental results show that the isothermal electron generation can indeed increase significantly with the increase of ambient temperature.

[0256] Table 11 lists the experimental isothermal electron generation results of the prototype isothermal electron generator (battery “(3) CsOAg-Cu”) at operating temperatures of 20.5°C, 23°C, and 25°C, measured using the zero check and zero baseline correction (CZ) functions of the Keithley 6514 electrometer.

[0257]

[0258]

[0259] When the isothermal charge from battery “(3) CsOAg-Cu” was measured with reverse polarity (the black alligator clip connector of the 237-ALG-2 low-noise cable of the Keithley 6514 system was connected to the CsOAg board (a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitter) and its red alligator clip connector was connected to the collector board), the isothermal electron generation current was measured to be -7.43 ± 0.03 picoamperes (pA) (Table 11), which is somewhat similar to that observed in battery “CsOAg-Cu 1” (Table 10).

[0260] Based on 12 readings taken from a Keithley 6514 system electrometer (Table 11), the isothermal voltage output of the battery "(3) CsOAg-Cu" at 25°C was measured to be 54.2 ± 0.8 millivolts (mV). In this example, based on the isothermal voltage (54.2 ± 0.8 mV) and isothermal current (7.35 ± 0.02 pA) measured at 25°C, the isothermal electronic power output of this prototype battery "(3) CsOAg-Cu" was calculated to be 3.98x10 -13 Watts.

[0261] As listed in Table 11, in the battery "(3) CsOAg-Cu", the current density across the surface area of ​​the CsOAg plate was measured to be 0.399 picoamperes per square centimeter (pA / cm2) in the normal polarity direction. 2 ), while when measured in the opposite polarity direction it is -0.404pA / cm 2 By taking the absolute value, the average current density in the battery "(3) CsOAg-Cu" is calculated to be 0.402 pA / cm 2 Based on the isothermal electron generation current flux (J) determined at 25°C in this experiment isoT ) is 0.402pA / cm 2 , it is estimated that the work function of the CsOAg emitter plate surface in the battery “(3)CsOAg-Cu” is about 1.1 electron volts (eV).

[0262] Figure 21aAnother photo of a prototype battery is shown. The battery was placed in a Faraday box and tested with normal polarity (the low-noise cable / red alligator clip connector of the Keithley 6514 system electrometer was connected to a CsOAg silver (Ag) plate (a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitter) and the black alligator clip was connected to the plug on the collector plate). The current reading was "11.888pA.CZ". This shows that the isothermal electron generation current of the prototype battery was measured to be approximately 11.89 picoamperes (pA) at room temperature (21°C) through the zero check and zero (baseline) correction (CZ) of the Keithley 6514 electrometer. Figure 21b The same battery is shown tested in the negative polarity orientation (Keithley 6514 black alligator clip connected to the CsOAg board and red alligator clip connected to the copper (Cu) board), and the negative current reading is "-11.030pA.CZ". This is an important experimental result because it proves that the sign of the measured current does depend on the expected emission polarity of the CsOAg-Cu battery.

[0263] Figure 22a Another photo of a CsOAg-Cu battery was shown. This battery was placed in a Faraday box and tested with normal polarity (the red alligator clip of a Keithley 6514 was connected to the CsOAg emitter and the black alligator clip was connected to the Cu collector). The voltage reading was "0.10051V.CZ". This shows that the isothermal voltage of this sample battery was approximately 100.5 millivolts (mV) at room temperature (21°C), as measured by the zero check and zero (baseline) correction (CZ) of the Keithley 6514 electrometer. Figure 22b As shown in Figure 1, when this CsOAg-Cu battery is shorted by connecting a wire between the CsOAg board's terminal (red wire) and the copper (Cu) board's terminal (blue wire), the voltage immediately returns to zero as expected. The expected voltage output reading is "-0.00001V.CZ". Finally, when the same CsOAg-Cu battery is tested with the opposite polarity (the black alligator clip connector of the Keithley 6514 system is connected to the CsOAg emitter and the red alligator clip connector is connected to the copper collector, as shown in Figure 1), the voltage immediately returns to zero as expected. The expected voltage output reading is "-0.00001V.CZ". Figure 22c As shown in Figure 2, the output voltage is also the expected negative value "-0.11329 V.CZ". This is also an important result because it proves that according to one of the various embodiments of the present invention, the measured voltage does indeed depend on the polarity of the isothermal electron generation activity of the prototype CsOAg-Cu battery.

[0264] Figure 23A photo shows a parallel test of two prototype batteries. These batteries were connected in parallel with their normal polarity (the red alligator clip connector of the Keithley 6514 system was connected to the CsOAg emitter and the black alligator clip connector was connected to the copper (Cu) collector). The current reading was "22.230pA.CZ". The isothermal current measured for the two prototype batteries was 11 picoamperes (pA) each. According to Equation 20 disclosed above, when multiple (n) asymmetric function-gated isothermal power generation systems are used in parallel, the total current (I sat(total) ) is the isothermal generator current (I sat(i) ). Therefore, the predicted isothermal current for the two prototype batteries used in parallel should be 22 picoamperes (pA), which closely matches the measured current reading of "22.230 pA.CZ." This is an important result because it demonstrates that the isothermal current generation effect of the two batteries used in parallel is indeed additive, which is indeed expected according to one of the various embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A series of energy renewal systems using isothermal electron power generation, which creates and utilizes a special asymmetric functional gating based isothermal electron power generation system that can isothermally utilize ambient thermal energy to emit electrons, the system includes at least one pair of low work function thermal electron emitters and high work function electron collectors installed in the barrier space. Installed in a container with a conductor support, to achieve at least one of the following energy renewal and application systems that isothermally utilize ambient thermal energy: a) isothermally utilizing the heat energy dissipated in the environment to generate energy for energy renewal and power generation, so as to generate electric energy with output voltage and current to perform useful work; b) providing a novel cooling function for a novel refrigerator by isothermally extracting ambient heat energy from the interior of the refrigerator and simultaneously generating isothermal electronic power without requiring any compressor, condenser, evaporator or radiator of a conventional refrigeration mechanism; and c) combinations thereof.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The special asymmetric function-gated isothermal electron-based power generation system is an integrated isothermal electron power generation system, which is installed in a vertically arranged vacuum tube cavity with a narrow inter-electrode gap size between each pair of emitters and collectors, including: a low work function film coated on the bottom surface of the first conductive plate as a first emitter; a first narrow space between the first pair of emitters and collectors, so that the thermally emitted electrons fly ballistically; a high work function film coated on the top surface of the second conductive body to serve as a first collector electrode; a low work function film on the bottom surface of the second conductive body as a second emitter; The second narrow space between the second pair of emitters and collectors allows the thermally emitted electrons to fly ballistically; the high work function film coated on the top surface of the third electrical conductor serves as the second collecting electrode body; the low work function film coated on the bottom surface of the third electrical conductor serves as the third emitter; the third narrow space between the third pair of emitters and collectors allows the thermally emitted electrons to fly ballistically; The high work function film coated on the top surface of the fourth conductor is used as a terminal collecting electrode; a first power outlet socket connected to the first conductive plate and grounded; a second power outlet socket connected to the fourth conductor.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein: The gap size between the emitter and collector electrodes is selected from: 2 nanometers (nm), 3nm, 4nm, 5nm, 6nm. 7nm, 8nm, 9nm, 10nm, 12nm, 14nm, 16nm, 18nm, 20nm, 25nm, 30nm, 35nm, 40nm 45nm, 50nm, 60nm, 70nm, 80nm, 100nm, 120nm, 140nm 160nm, 180nm, 200nm, 250nm, 300nm, 500nm, 600nm, 700nm, 800nm, 900nm, 1000nm, 1.2 microns (μm), 1.4μm, 1.6μm, 1.8μm, 2.0μm, 2.5μm, 3.0μm, 3.5μm, 4.0μm, 4.5μm, 5.0μm, 6.0μm, 7.0μm, 9.0μm, 10μm, 12μm, 14μm, 16μm, 18μm, 20μm, 25μm, 30μm, 35μm, 40μm, 45μm, 50μm, 60μm, 70μm, 80μm, 90μm, 100μm, 120μm, 140μm, 160μm, 180μm, 200μm, 250μm, 300μm, 400μm, 500μm, 600μm, 700μm, 800μm, 900μm, 1000μm, 1.2mm, 1.4mm, 1.6mm, 1.8mm, 2.0mm, 2.5 mm, 3.0 mm, 4.0 mm, 5.0 mm, 6.0 mm, 7.0 mm, 8.0 mm, 9.0 mm, 10 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm, 30 mm, 40 mm, 50 mm, 60 mm, 80 mm, 100 mm, and within any two ranges of these values.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The special asymmetric functional gating based isothermal electron power generation system is a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitter with a low work function (0.6eV) and a protonated polyaniline collector with a high work function (4.42eV), which is installed in a cavity-shaped vacuum tube. This vacuum tube isothermal electron power generation system includes: a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film is coated on the dome-shaped top inner surface of the cavity-shaped vacuum tube wall to serve as an emitter; a protonated polyaniline film, which is coated on the inverted dome-shaped bottom inner surface of the cavity-shaped vacuum tube to serve as a collector; a vacuum space between the emitter and the collector, allowing the thermally emitted electrons to fly through ballistically; a power outlet socket connected to the emitter; and a power outlet socket connected to the collector.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The special asymmetric function-gated isothermal electron-based power generation system has three pairs of low work function (0.6 eV) silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitters and high work function (4.42 eV) protonated polyaniline collectors. This isothermal electron power generation system integrated in series includes: A silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film is coated on the dome-shaped top inner surface of the vacuum tube wall to serve as a first emitter; A protonated polyaniline film (current collector) is coated on the top surface of the first intermediate electrical conductor to serve as a first current collector; a first vacuum space to cause the thermally emitted electrons to fly ballistically through the first emitter and the first collector; A silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film is coated on the bottom surface of the first intermediate conductor to serve as a second emitter; a protonated polyaniline film coated on the top surface of the second intermediate electrical conductor to serve as a second current collector; A second vacuum space causes the thermally emitted electrons to fly ballistically between the second emitter and the second collector; A silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film coated on the bottom surface of the second intermediate electrical conductor serves as a third emitter; A protonated polyaniline membrane is coated on the inner surface of the inverted dome-shaped bottom of the vacuum tube to serve as a third collector; A third vacuum space is used to make the thermally emitted electrons fly ballistically between the third emitter and the third collector; a first power outlet socket connected to the first emitter; A second power outlet socket connected to the terminal collector.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The special asymmetric functional gating based isothermal electron power generation system is a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitter with a low work function (0.7 eV) and a copper metal collector with a high work function (4.56 eV). The isothermal electron power generation system installed in a cavity-shaped vacuum tube comprises: coating a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film as an emitter on the inner surface of the dome-shaped top of the cavity-shaped vacuum tube wall; The vacuum space between the emitter and collector causes the thermally emitted electrons to fly ballistically; A copper (Cu) film coated on the inner surface of the bottom end of the inverted dome shape of the cavity-like vacuum tube to serve as a collector; a first power outlet socket connected to the transmitter; A second power outlet socket connected to the collector.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The special asymmetric functional gating isothermal electron-based generator system has two pairs of low work function (0.7 eV) silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitters and high work function (4.56 eV) copper metal collectors integrated in series. The isothermal electron generator system integrated in series includes: a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film coated on the inner surface of the dome-shaped top of the vacuum tube chamber wall as a first emitter; a first vacuum space between the first pair of emitters and the collector to make the thermally emitted electrons ballistically The invention discloses a method for producing a power tube chamber having a first power outlet socket connected to the first emitter and a second power outlet socket connected to the terminal collector. The method comprises the following steps: a first power outlet socket connected to the first emitter and a second power outlet socket connected to the terminal collector. The first power outlet socket is coated on the top surface of the intermediate conductor as a first collecting electrode body; a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film is coated on the bottom surface of the intermediate conductor as a second emitter; a second vacuum space between the second pair of emitters and collectors allows thermally emitted electrons to fly through the space ballistically; a Cu film is covered on the inner surface of the inverted dome-shaped bottom end of the vacuum tube chamber as a terminal collector; a first power outlet socket connected to the first emitter; and a second power outlet socket connected to the terminal collector.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The special asymmetric functional gating-based isothermal electron generator system adopts three pairs of extremely low work function (0.5 eV) silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitters and high work function gold (Au) metal (5.10 eV) collectors integrated in series. This series integrated isothermal electron generator system includes: coating a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film on the inner surface of the dome-shaped top of the vacuum tube chamber wall to serve as a first emitter; a first vacuum space between the first pair of emitters and collectors to allow thermally emitted electrons to fly through ballistically; coating a gold (Au) film on the top surface of the first intermediate conductor to serve as a first collector; coating a Au film on the bottom surface of the first intermediate conductor A silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film is used as a second emitter; a second vacuum space between a second pair of emitters and a collector allows thermally emitted electrons to fly through ballistically; a gold (Au) film is coated on the top surface of a second intermediate conductor to serve as a second collector; a silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) film is coated on the bottom surface of the second intermediate conductor as a third emitter; a third vacuum space between a third pair of emitters and a collector allows thermally emitted electrons to fly through ballistically; a gold (Au) film is coated on the inner surface of the inverted dome-shaped bottom end of the vacuum tube chamber to serve as a terminal collector; a power outlet socket connected to the first emitter; a power outlet socket connected to the terminal collector.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The special asymmetric functional gating based isothermal electron power generation system adopts multiple pairs of low work function (1.01eV) doped graphene emitters and high work function (4.60eV) graphene collectors integrated in series. The isothermal electron power generation system integrated in series includes: A doped graphene film coated on the inner surface of the dome-shaped top end of the vacuum tube cavity wall serves as a first emitter; The first vacuum space between the first pair of emitter and collector electrodes allows the thermally emitted electrons to fly ballistically through the space; The graphene film coated on the top surface of the first intermediate electrical conductor serves as a first current collector; a doped graphene film coated on the bottom surface of the first intermediate electrical conductor to serve as a second emitter; A second vacuum space between the second pair of emitter and collector electrodes allows thermally emitted electrons to fly ballistically through; The graphene film coated on the top surface of the second intermediate electrical conductor serves as a second current collector; The doped graphene film coated on the bottom surface of the second intermediate conductor serves as a third emitter; The third vacuum space between the third pair of emitter and collector electrodes is used to allow thermally emitted electrons to fly through the space ballistically; A graphene film coated on the inner surface of the inverted dome-shaped bottom end of the vacuum tube cavity is used as a terminal current collector; an electrical power outlet socket connected to the first emitter; An electrical power outlet socket to which the terminal collector is connected.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The low work function hot electron emitter has a specific work function value selected from: 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 2.6, 2.8, 3.0 electron volts (eV), and within any two ranges among these values.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The high work function electron collector has a specific work function value selected from: 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 2.6, 2.8, 3.0, 3.2, 3.4, 3.6, 3.8, 4.0, 4.2, 4.4, 4.6, 4.8, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0 electron volts (eV), and within any two ranges among these values.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein: The isothermal operating temperature or temperature range of the asymmetric functional gated isothermal electronic power generation system is selected from: 193 Kelvin (K) (-80 degrees Celsius (°C)), 200K (-73°C), 210K (-63°C), 220K (-53°C), 230K (-43°C), 240K (-33°C), 250K (-23°C), 260K (-13°C), 270K (-3°C), 273K (0°C), 278K (5°C) ,283K(10℃),288K(15℃),293K(20℃),298K(25℃),303K(30℃),308K(35℃),313K(40℃),318K(45℃) ,323K(50℃),328K(55℃),333K(60℃),338K(65℃),343K(70℃),348K(75℃),353K(80℃),363K(90℃) ,373K(100℃),383K(110℃),393K(120℃),403K(130℃),413K(140℃),423K(150℃),433K(160℃),45 3K(180℃),473K(200℃),493K(220℃),513K(240℃),533K(260℃),553K(280℃),573K(300℃),623K( ℃), 350℃), 673K(400℃), 723K(450℃), 773K(500℃), 823K(550℃), 873K(600℃), 923K(650℃), 973K(700℃), 1073K(800℃), 1173K(900℃), 1273K(1000℃), 1373K(1100℃), 1473K(1200℃), and within any two ranges of these values.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein: The low work function thermal electron emitter is made of a special emitter material, which is selected from: silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs), cesium oxide (Cs2O) coated silver (Ag) plate surface, potassium-oxygen / silicon (100) (KO / Si(100)), special low work function material (C12A7:e-), potassium (K) on tungsten tellurium (WTe2), phosphorus (P)-doped diamond, special calcium aluminum oxide (Ca 24 Al 28 O 64 ), cesium / oxygen (Cs / O)-doped graphene, special strontium barium vanadium oxide (Sr 1-x Ba x VO3), barium (Ba) coated silicon carbide (SiC), oxygen-barium (O-Ba) on tungsten (W), cesium (Cs) on platinum (Pt) metal, and combinations thereof.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein: The high work function electron collector is made of a special collector material, and the special collector material is selected from: platinum (Pt) metal, silver (Ag) metal, gold (Au) metal, copper (Cu) metal, molybdenum (Mo) metal, aluminum (Al) metal, tungsten, rhenium, molybdenum, niobium, nickel, graphene, graphite, polyaniline film, zinc metal oxide (ZnO), ITO metal oxide, FTO metal oxide, two-dimensional nickel, special high work function material (PEDOT:PSS), protonated polyaniline film, and combinations thereof.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein: The emitter is coated on certain surfaces of an electrical conductor, wherein the electrical conductor is selected from the group consisting of: a thermally conductive electrical conductor, a thermally conductive metal conductor, a refractory metal, a metal alloy, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, silver, gold, platinum, molybdenum, conductive molybdenum oxide (MoO3), tungsten, rhenium, molybdenum, niobium, nickel, titanium, graphene, graphite, a thermally conductive and electrically conductive polymer, a polyaniline film, a protonated polyaniline film, and combinations thereof.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein: The collecting electrode is coated on certain surfaces of an electrical conductor, which conductor is selected from the group consisting of: a thermally conductive electrical conductor, a thermally conductive metal conductor, a refractory metal, a metal alloy, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, silver, gold, platinum, molybdenum, conductive molybdenum oxide (MoO3), tungsten, rhenium, molybdenum, niobium, nickel, titanium, graphene, graphite, a thermally conductive and electrically conductive polymer, a polyaniline membrane, a protonated polyaniline membrane, and combinations thereof.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein: The container is made of a variety of heat-conducting wall materials, and the heat-conducting wall materials are selected from: heat-conducting metals and heat-conducting non-metallic materials including stainless steel, aluminum, copper, metal alloys, vacuum tube glass, vacuum bulb glass, electrical insulation materials, carbon fiber composites, vinyl esters, epoxy resins, polyester resins, thermoplastics, high thermal conductivity graphene, graphite, cellulose nanofiber / epoxy resin nanocomposites, thermally conductive and electrically insulating plastics, thermally conductive and electrically insulating ceramics, thermally conductive and electrically insulating glass, glass fiber reinforced plastic materials, borosilicate glass, Pyrex glass, fiberglass , sol-gel, silicone gel, silicone rubber, quartz minerals, diamond materials, glass ceramics, transparent ceramics, transparent plastics, such as acrylic (polymethyl methacrylate), butyrate (cellulose acetate butyrate), polycarbonate (Lexan) and ethylene glycol modified (PETG), polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyethylene (or polyethylene) and polyethylene HD, thermally conductive transparent plastics, thermally conductive and electrically insulating coatings, colorless glass, transparent transparent plastics containing certain anti-reflective materials or coatings, transparent glass materials containing certain anti-reflective materials, and combinations thereof.

18. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that The interface contact and seal between the container wall and the electrode plate are made of certain thermally conductive but electrically insulating materials, which are selected from: thermally conductive and electrically insulating plastics, epoxy resins, polyester resins, airtight electrically insulating silicone gel (Kafuter 704RTV) materials, thermoplastics, thermally conductive and insulating ceramics, thermally conductive and insulating glass, high thermal conductivity graphene, graphite, transparent plastics, acrylic (polymethyl methacrylate), butyrate (cellulose acetate butyrate), polycarbonate (Lexan) and ethylene glycol modified polyethylene terephthalate (PETG), polypropylene, polyethylene and polyethylene HD, thermally conductive transparent plastics, thermally conductive glue, electrically insulating glue, thermally conductive coatings, electrically insulating coatings, thermally conductive glass, heat-resistant glass and other borosilicate glasses, sol-gel, silicone gel, silicone rubber, quartz minerals, diamond materials, cellulose nanofiber / epoxy resin nanocomposites, carbon fiber composites, glass ceramic materials, transparent ceramics, transparent plastics containing anti-reflection materials and / or coatings, transparent glass containing anti-reflection materials, and Its combination.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein: The asymmetric function-gated isothermal electron power generation system with the energy recovery process function includes the following features: The isothermal electron power generation current density J generated by the ambient thermal energy extraction can be calculated according to the following formula isoT : J isoT =AT 2 (e -[WF(e)+e·V(e)] / kT -e -[WF(c)+e·V(c)] / kT ) where A is the universal factor (known as the Richardson-Dushman constant) and can be expressed as Where m is the mass of the electron, e is the unit charge of the electron, and k is the Boltzmann constant, h is Planck’s constant; T is the absolute temperature of the emitter and collector in Kelvin (K); WF(e) is the work function of the emitter surface; the e·V(e) term is the product of the electron unit charge e and the emitter voltage V(e); k is the Boltzmann constant in eV / K; WF(c) is the work function of the collector surface; e·V(c) is the product of the electron unit charge e and the collector voltage V(c).

20. The system of claim 1, wherein: The special asymmetric functional-gated isothermal electron-based generator system has a pair of low work function (0.5 eV) silver-oxygen-cesium (Ag-O-Cs) emitters and a high work function (4.60 eV) graphene collector for simultaneously generating isothermal electronic electricity by extracting ambient thermal energy from the inside of the refrigerator, and providing a novel cooling method for the new refrigerator.

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