Nanometric Layered Photon Converter for High-Energy Radiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices are unable to effectively convert the energy of high-energy photons, such as XUV, X-rays, and gamma rays, into electricity due to their penetrability through matter and the short mean-free-path of electrons, leading to recombination and heat conversion rather than electric energy generation.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a series of nanometric-scaled layers with differing atomic charges to absorb and emit electrons via a cascade of Auger electron emissions, where high-energy photons eject electrons from high-Z materials, which migrate to other layers, creating an electric potential to drive an external circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If high-energy photons interact with matter to generate electrons, then electricity conversion is enabled, but the photons' great penetrability causes most photons to pass through without interaction, reducing conversion efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The converter is segmented into multiple thin layers of different materials (high-Z and low-Z materials alternating) to increase the probability of photon interaction while maintaining electron collection efficiency. Each layer is designed with thickness comparable to the mean-free-path of electrons, creating numerous interfaces for electron generation and collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures combining high-Z materials (for photon absorption) and low-Z materials (for electron collection and transport) in a layered configuration. This composite approach optimizes both photon interaction probability and electron mean-free-path to resolve the contradiction between photon penetrability and energy conversion efficiency.
2Power
If electrons are emitted from high-Z photon-trapping materials, then electric charge is generated, but the short mean-free-path of electrons causes them to recombine and convert energy to heat within the trapping material
Solution Approach 1:
The converter alternates between thin layers of high-Z photon-trapping material and low-Z electron-collecting material. This segmentation ensures that electrons generated in high-Z layers have a short distance to travel into adjacent low-Z layers before recombination occurs, effectively utilizing their kinetic energy for electricity generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The low-Z material layers act as intermediary regions that facilitate electron collection and transport. These intermediary layers provide a favorable environment for electron survival and collection, bridging the gap between photon absorption sites and electron collection contacts.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables efficient conversion of high-energy photons into electricity with high efficiency, applicable in various applications including energy detection, particle accelerators, and space applications, reducing material degradation and heating from high-energy photon exposure.
Implementation Method 1
The principle underlying the embodiments provided herein is based on the ejection of electrons from an atom (including the ejection of deep seated inner shell electrons from an atom of high atomic number (high-Z) materials) by high-energy photons
Implementation Method 2
The ejected electrons carry kinetic energy, which can lead to the migration of the ejected electrons into different regions of a device where the accumulation of the ejected electrons can create an electric potential that can then drive an external electric circuit
Implementation Method 3
The systems and methods provided herein utilize a series of materials with differing atomic charges to take advantage of the emission of a large multiplicity of electrons by a single high-energy photon
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for the conversion of energy of high-energy photons into electricity which utilize a series of materials with differing atomic charges to take advantage of the emission of a large multiplicity of electrons by a single high-energy photon via a cascade of Auger electron emissions. In one embodiment, a high-energy photon converter preferably includes a linearly layered nanometric-scaled wafer made up of layers of a first material sandwiched between layers of a second material having an atomic charge number differing from the atomic charge number of the first material. In other embodiments, the nanometric-scaled layers are configured in a tubular or shell-like configuration and/or include layers of a third insulator material.