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WO2008118234A2 - Procédé ou moyens pour utiliser ou combiner l'ingénierie plasmonique, thermique, photovoltaïque ou optique - Google Patents

Procédé ou moyens pour utiliser ou combiner l'ingénierie plasmonique, thermique, photovoltaïque ou optique Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008118234A2
WO2008118234A2 PCT/US2007/087963 US2007087963W WO2008118234A2 WO 2008118234 A2 WO2008118234 A2 WO 2008118234A2 US 2007087963 W US2007087963 W US 2007087963W WO 2008118234 A2 WO2008118234 A2 WO 2008118234A2
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materials
light
structures
metallic
energy
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WO2008118234A9 (fr
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Anthony Defries
Mark Brongersma
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10F—INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
    • H10F10/00—Individual photovoltaic cells, e.g. solar cells
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B82—NANOTECHNOLOGY
    • B82Y—SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
    • B82Y10/00—Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B82—NANOTECHNOLOGY
    • B82Y—SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
    • B82Y30/00—Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10K—ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES
    • H10K30/00—Organic devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation
    • H10K30/50—Photovoltaic [PV] devices
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/50—Photovoltaic [PV] energy
    • Y02E10/549—Organic PV cells

Definitions

  • the present disclosure concerns a means to use and combine methods of thermal engineering, plasmonics, photonics, electronics, photo voltaics, optical transfer, heat transport, light transport, catalysis and chemical reactions individually or in any combination for the enhancement or generation of solar, optical, electrical or any form of energy or for any other purpose.
  • the present disclosure further concerns a means to use at least a form of electromagnetic excitation or light-matter interactions in a structure or material having one or more addressable frequencies to generate the exchange of thermal, kinetic, electronic or photonic energy.
  • the present disclosure further concerns a means to use at least a form of electromagnetic excitation or light-matter interaction, including solar or laser energy to generate localized conditions that enable initiation and spatial and temporal control of catalysis, chemical reactions, deposition, growth, synthesis, photocatalysis, photosynthesis, electrocatalysis and catalytic processes.
  • Initiation and spatial and temporal control may be obtained by restricting and directing the electromagnetic excitation or light-matter interactions to specific objects or features embedded or located in or on a host matrix material or substrate.
  • this may provide a means to use electromagnetic excitation or light-matter interactions to influence, cause, control, modulate, stimulate or change the state or phase of electrical, magnetic, optical, thermal, acoustic or electromagnetic charge, emission, conduction, recording, data management, storage or similar properties.
  • the method could include the use of light-matter interactions to generate electromagnetic excitation and concentrate extremely localized field effects or concentrated plasmonic field effects to cause an exchange of energy states in a material or structure.
  • Said field effects could be used for excitation of surface electrons in metallic nanostructures or any other structures causing said electrons to exchange energy states or said field effects could be used to mediate or stimulate photon emissions or modulate photonic energy to excite or stimulate emissions of electrons.
  • Said electron or photon emissions could be used to drive photochemical, photocatalysis or photovoltaic reactions.
  • Said exchange of energy states could be made to perform the functions of a solar cell, capacitor, battery, transistor, resistor, semiconductor, data, information, or signal storage, recording, acquisition, distribution, management, transport, retrieval, exchange, inversion or restoration.
  • Spatial and temporal control may be obtained by restricting and directing the electromagnetic excitation or light- matter interactions to specific objects or features embedded or located in or on a host matrix material or substrate.
  • the method of use could include control of light-matter interactions addressed at optical and other frequencies to generate controlled localized thermal conditions.
  • a further implementation concerns a means to employ electromagnetic excitation or light- matter interactions to generate localized thermal conditions to control or cause the combination, separation, reformation or reclamation of a gas, a combination of gasses, a material or a combination of materials in the form of a gas, plasma, solid or liquid.
  • the method of use disclosed could provide a means to control chemical reactions for the generation, use, transfer and output of controlled localized thermal heat or energy.
  • the method of use disclosed could provide a means to realize and control local thermal conditions down to or below the length scale of a single nanometer and down to or below the timescale of a single picosecond.
  • surface plasmon excitations may be used to realize and control local thermal conditions down to or below the length scale of a single nanometer and down to or below the timescale of a single picosecond.
  • Solar energy technology for renewable energy production may supply worldwide energy needs. Assuming that 10%-efficient solar cells are used, the area required to supply world energy demand is estimated to be 750 x 750 square kilometers or approximately 3% of global desert area.
  • PV photovoltaic
  • thermal solar materials for the production of renewable energy is currently limited by high cost and low efficiency.
  • To make solar the preferred renewable technology requires the means to manufacture efficient and durable solar materials at low cost.
  • the technology must also provide for materials that are recyclable with low environmental impact and can be deployed safely over large surface areas in close proximity to those locations where energy is required, e.g. industrial facilities, cities, towns, residential areas, communities, etc.
  • a typical PV solar cell involves the following operation; photon absorption, exciton diffusion, charge transfer, charge separation, and carrier collection. Each step has a loss associated with it, compounding to a large overall loss that limits the practical efficiency of current PV solar cells to less than 10%. Major loss occurs during photon absorption.
  • the complete solar spectrum consists of many different wavelengths. Photon absorption for electron excitation is wavelength dependent. Current PV or thermal solar cells cannot utilize the complete solar spectrum resulting in only a small number of photons that can be used. More than 70% of photons are unused in conventional PV solar cells. Increasing the spectrum utilization or the number of electrons stimulated per photon could increase the overall efficiency of solar materials. Further progress will require the development of materials with smaller energy gaps and reduced energy loss.
  • Photovoltaic cells in which the active layer is a composite of an organic material and semiconducting nanoparticles have shown promise for achieving lower energy gaps.
  • the invention described herein provides a means to capture and utilize the complete solar spectrum and to maximize energy efficiency. It is a feature of the invention described herein to use adjustments in the resonant frequency, size, morphology, distribution and geometry of nanoparticles or nanoparticle materials to stimulate, increase or control the absorption spectrum and exciton diffusion.
  • the method may incorporate metallic nanoparticle catalysts or nanostructures containing metallic nanoparticle catalysts to be included in the said structure or device.
  • the use of light-matter interactions or electromagnetic excitation including solar energy or laser light to control and direct localized thermal conditions down to or below the length scale of a single nanometer and down to or below the timescale of a single picosecond in said catalysts or devices may allow for more precise chemical reactions to be initiated and controlled in those reactors, structures or devices. Rapid changes in the delivery and location of focused heating will reduce cycling times for repeated heating and cooling to improve the efficiency and yield of chemical reactions and processing.
  • the present invention concerns a means to use and combine methods of thermal engineering, plasmonics, photonics, electronics, photo voltaics, optical transfer, heat transport, light transport, catalysis and chemical reactions individually or in any combination for the enhancement or generation of solar, optical, electrical or any form of energy.
  • the present invention further concerns a means to use at least a form of electromagnetic excitation or light-matter interactions in a structure or material having one or more addressable frequencies to generate the exchange of thermal, kinetic, electronic or photonic energy.
  • the present invention further concerns a means to use at least a form of electromagnetic excitation or light-matter interaction, including solar or laser energy to generate localized conditions that enable initiation and spatial and temporal control of catalysis, chemical reactions, deposition, growth, synthesis, photocatalysis, electrocatalysis and catalytic processes. Initiation and spatial and temporal control may be obtained by restricting and directing the electromagnetic excitation or light-matter interactions to specific objects or features embedded or located in or on a host matrix material or substrate.
  • this provides a means to use electromagnetic excitation or light-matter interactions or light-matter interactions to influence, cause, control, modulate, stimulate or change the state or phase of thermal, electrical, magnetic, optical, acoustic or electromagnetic charge, emission, conduction, recording, data management, information, storage or similar properties.
  • the method could include the use of light-matter interactions to generate electromagnetic excitation and concentrate extremely localized field effects or concentrated plasmonic field effects to cause an exchange of energy states in a material or structure.
  • Said field effects could be used for excitation of surface electrons in metallic nanostructures or any other structures causing said electrons to exchange energy states or said field effects could be used to mediate or stimulate photon emissions or modulate photonic energy to excite or stimulate emissions of electrons.
  • Said electron or photon emissions could be used to drive photochemical, photosynthesis, photocatalysis, photovoltaic or thermophotovoltaic reactions.
  • Metals can be thought of as a gas of conduction electrons. Similar to sound waves in a real gas, metals exhibit plasmon phenomena, i.e. electron density waves. Electron density waves can be excited at the interface between a metal and a dielectric. There is also a strong interaction of light with a metallic nanoparticle. At the surface plasmon resonance frequency, the electric field of a light wave induces a collective electron oscillation in the particle. Due to inelastic scattering processes, the kinetic energy of the electrons is rapidly converted to heat and the temperature of the nanoparticle is raised.
  • the time- varying electric field associated with light waves can exert a force on the gas of negatively charged electrons and drive them into a collective oscillation.
  • This phenomenon to driving a gas of molecules into a resonant collective oscillation by blowing on a flute.
  • This process can be used for the rapid, controlled heating and cooling of particles to enable new methods for micro and nano manufacturing and patterning and molecular synthesis. It is important to note that very low energy input is required to obtain a significant temperature rise in nanoscale particles.
  • This energy can be delivered in a spatially and temporally controlled fashion by solar or light energy, a lamp, a laser or any requisite wavelength light source. When the light source is interrupted the particle cools and the thermal energy gained rapidly dissipates into a larger, cooler thermal mass on which the particle is positioned (lOps- Ins). This process can be used for very fast switching between low and high temperature states of the particle.
  • Electromagnetic excitation or light-matter interactions of specific objects or features may be used to drive reactions in materials or structures in proximity to the heated object or feature.
  • the heat can be used for any purpose including to drive a turbine, engine, Stirling engine, generator, converter, photovoltaic converter, alternator, dynamo or any other device to produce an electrical current.
  • Resonant light-matter interaction effects may be used to attain controlled localized thermal conditions.
  • the invention described herein could provide a means to initiate and control the generation, use, transfer and output of controlled localized thermal energy.
  • the invention described herein could provide a method to use thermal engineering for more efficient solar energy.
  • Said use may include photovoltaic and thermal engineering in any combination in a solar cell or material.
  • Said use may further include thermal, plasmonic or photovoltaic solar cells or materials in any combination.
  • Plasmonics is the study of the interaction between light and matter.
  • the use of light-matter interactions may be used to control localized thermal conditions down to or below the length scale of a single nanometer and down to or below the timescale of a single picosecond. Strong light-matter interactions are found in metallic nanostructures. Metal nanostructures or nanopatterned metallic or nonmetallic structures have been shown to absorb light more precisely and efficiently than other materials.
  • the invention described herein may be used to exploit solar or light energy more efficiently.
  • the loss mechanism in typical solar cell conversion efficiency is between 95% and 99%.
  • Commercially available silicon based semiconductor dielectric materials have a power conversion efficiency rate of approximately 10%.
  • the failure rate in wafer fabrication is as high as 50%, which adds to the ecological disadvantages. Silicon materials are fragile in operation and deployment with limited lifetimes and diminishing performance.
  • a new generation of photovoltaic solar cells has been proposed using organic polymer or plastic thin film combined with nanostructured inks or dyes.
  • the invention described herein could enable solar or light energy to fabricate or supply power for the fabrication of materials or devices.
  • Said fabrication could be accomplished by any method or mean including those identified herein.
  • Said materials or devices could be used for the production of solar, photovoltaic, plasmonic, thermal or other energy in any fashion or in the manner described in this invention.
  • Solar or light energy may be used in the manner described in this invention to manufacture and produce materials or devices in an energy efficient manner.
  • Photons trapped in an optical cavity repeatedly interact with emitters located inside the cavity. If the optical quality factor of the cavity is high photons are trapped for longer periods of time and the interaction between light and matter is enhanced. The repeated interaction of the photons and emitter in the cavity can result in feedback to enhance or suppress emissions.
  • Metallic nanostructures or nanopatterned metallic or nonmetallic structures offer a unique opportunity to substantially increase the rate of emissions through surface plasmon excitations, i.e. collective electron oscillations. It has been established that metallic antenna or receiver nanostructures or nanopatterned metallic or nonmetallic structures enable strong field concentration by means of phase matching freely propagating light waves to local antenna modes.
  • An important aspect of the invention described herein concerns the means to capture and concentrate the maximum light energy by the most efficient combination of nanostructured or nanopatterned metallic, organic or metalorganic materials.
  • a feature of the invention described herein may include incorporating said materials in an antenna, receiver, collector, waveguide or other focusing or concentrating device for or as part of a photovoltaic, plasmonic or thermal solar cell/material structure or design.
  • the invention described herein may be used for the generation of energy through the use of light-matter interactions driven by a laser, lamp, light or solar energy by use of some or all of the following steps:
  • This embodiment may use any or all of the aforementioned steps in combination with each other or alone.
  • the steps may be used in this order or in any other order with omission or addition of any other steps.
  • Such structure could be applied to any substrate.
  • Such structure may have the ability to enhance the thermal, electrical or photovoltaic properties of any substrate.
  • the substrate or part of the substrate may act as a heat sink.
  • Solar radiation absorbed by said structure may be transferred to the substrate or to a separate heat sink.
  • Heat may be transferred to a working fluid, gas, plasma or liquid and used to drive a turbine, generator, alternator, converter, photovoltaic converter or similar device to create electrical energy or for any other purpose.
  • some of the steps listed in the previous embodiments could be used for a thermal solar application.
  • Metallic or nonmetallic nanostructures, micro structures, or nanopatterned structures could be incorporated into thermal solar cells or materials to collect, separate or absorb light and act as waveguides.
  • the acquired light energy can be converted into heat by absorption, reflection or otherwise.
  • the heat can be transferred to a gas, liquid, solid or plasma and used for any purpose.
  • the heat can be used with or in a reactor or chamber to drive a turbine, engine, Stirling engine, alternator, converter, photovoltaic converter, generator, dynamo or any other device for the creation of electrical current or for any purpose.
  • the light energy or heat can be used to excite the molecular or kinetic properties of a gas or liquid to drive a turbine, engine, Stirling engine, alternator, converter, photovoltaic converter, generator, dynamo or any other device for the creation of electrical current or for any purpose.
  • some of the steps listed in the previous embodiments could be used in conjunction with existing photovoltaic solar cells to create thermal photovoltaic solar cells.
  • metallic or nonmetallic nanostructures, micro structures, or nanopatterned structures can be used as antennas or receivers to capture light energy from solar or other sources. The light can be separated into discrete wavelengths using transparent nanopatterned metallic structures or films. The localized field effects can be enhanced to stimulate photon emission rates. These photon emissions can be controlled and focused through metallic or nonmetallic nanoparticle, micro structures, or nanopatterned structures absorption, morphology, size, distribution, geometry, positioning, composition or similar factors.
  • the transparent nanopatterned metallic structures or thin-films can be combined as contacts or electrodes to create organic photovoltaic subcells or multijunction stacks. These subcells or multijunction stacks can be spectrally or optically tuned. Absorption properties may be enhanced through the conductivity of transparent metal contacts.
  • some of the steps listed in the previous embodiments could be used to combine thermal solar materials with photovoltaic solar cells.
  • metallic or nonmetallic nanostructures, micro structures, or nanopatterned structures can also be used to convert light energy into heat by absorption or reflection.
  • the heat can then be transferred to a gas, liquid or plasma.
  • the heat can be used for any purpose or to drive a turbine, engine, Stirling engine, alternator, converter, photovoltaic converter, generator, dynamo or any other device for the creation of electrical current.
  • the heat can also be used to excite the molecular or kinetic properties of a gas, liquid, solid, plasma or any other material for any purpose or to drive a turbine, engine, Stirling engine, alternator, converter, photovoltaic converter, generator, dynamo or any other device for the creation of electrical current.
  • some of the steps listed in the previous embodiments could be used for the creation of thermal plasmonic solar cells or materials.
  • Metallic or nonmetallic nanostructures, micro structures, or nanopatterned structures can be used to collect light.
  • the plasmon resonant frequency of metallic or nonmetallic nanostructured or nanopatterned materials can be used to separate the acquired light energy spectrum into discrete wavelengths.
  • the plasmon frequency can be used for excitation of surface plasmons to enhance transmission of light energy to a desired area.
  • the metallic or nonmetallic nanoparticles, micro structures, or nanopatterned structures can be used for plasmon enhanced catalysis to convert light energy into heat or to start catalytic or chemical reactions.
  • the metallic nanostructures can also be used to generate heat through absorption or reflection without using the plasmon resonance effect.
  • Heat generated through absorption or reflection and heat generated through plasmon enhanced catalysis can be transferred to a gas, liquid, solid or plasma.
  • the gas, liquid, solid or plasma can be combined with or placed in proximity to heated nanoparticle surfaces to generate heat for any purpose.
  • Heat can be used in or transferred to a reactor or chamber for any purpose or to drive a turbine, engine, Stirling engine, alternator, converter, photovoltaic converter, generator, dynamo or any other device for the creation of electrical current.
  • the heat derived from light energy can be used to excite the molecular or kinetic properties of a gas or liquid for any purpose or to drive a turbine, engine, Stirling engine, alternator, converter, photovoltaic converter, generator, dynamo or any other device for the creation of electrical current.
  • some of the steps in the previous embodiments can be used to create a plasmonic photovoltaic solar cell or material.
  • metallic or nonmetallic nanostructures, micro structures, or nanopatterned structures can be used as antennas or receivers to capture light energy from solar or other sources.
  • the light can be separated into discrete wavelengths using transparent nanopatterned metallic structures or films.
  • the localized field effects can be enhanced to stimulate photon emission rates.
  • These photon emissions can be controlled and focused through metallic or nonmetallic nanoparticle, micro structures, or nanopatterned structures, absorption, morphology, distribution, geometry, size, positioning, composition or similar factors.
  • the transparent nanopatterned metallic structures or thin-films can be combined as contacts or electrodes to create organic photovoltaic subcells or multijunction stacks. These subcells or multijunction stacks can be spectrally or optically tuned. Absorption properties may be enhanced through the conductivity of transparent metal contacts.
  • the efficiency of plasmonic composite solar cells/materials may be improved by means of increasing the photon/electron emissions.
  • the standard emission ratio in a photovoltaic solar cell device is one electron per one photon.
  • Particles at a size of or below 100 nm contain a larger number of high energy surface electrons clustered in close proximity to one another. Since such high energy surface electrons are already in motion they can be more easily stimulated by the arriving photons. This may allow for a change in the ratio of photon electron emissions to permit up to seven surface electrons to be dislodged for each arriving photon. Stimulation of electron emissions would increase the generation of electrical power in a significant manner.
  • optical fibers made of glass, plastic, polymer or other materials can be used to transmit light. Fiber optic materials enable light to be transmitted with minimal degradation over very significant distances, i.e. hundreds or thousands of kilometers. Light may also be transmitted in a free space medium such as air. This technology known as free space optics may use targeted guided light or laser beams without containment. The same technology may be deployed in microstructured optical fibers or in any other form or fashion including the use of a hollow or a partially hollow contained medium filled with air, gas or a vacuum.
  • the invention described herein may include the transfer of light collected in a specific location to one or many other or distant locations.
  • a device may capture light in a specific location or locations and transmit the light via fiber or free space optics or by any other means to one or many alternative locations
  • the transmitted light may then be used at any of such secondary locations with a plasmonic reactor device or in any other fashion to complete any or all of the steps of the previous embodiments.
  • Electricity may be generated at such locations by photovoltaic or any other means.
  • Light may be used at such locations to generate heat by any means including plasmon enhanced catalysis or chemical reactions.
  • Heat so generated at any location can be used for any purpose or to drive a turbine, engine, generator or other device for electrical current generation.
  • This embodiment demonstrates the unique ability to use solar or light energy in a distant, dark or subterranean environment to generate heat and electricity.
  • This embodiment may use any or all of the aforementioned steps or any of the steps identified in any other embodiment in combination with each other or alone. The steps may be used in this order or in any other order with omission or addition of any other steps. [0038]
  • the invention described herein could use any methods or materials to collect light by use of some or all of the following steps:
  • Said methods may include any light sensitive materials, glass, optical fiber, glass fiber or any light transmitting material in any form
  • Optical fibers may be used as the most efficient materials to collect and focus light
  • Fibers or any other material could be arranged in convex, concave, or any other formation or design to maximize light absorption
  • Such software could also be used to design the optimum forms, shapes, surfaces, structures and materials to maximize exposure to and collection of light
  • Software simulation and modeling may be used to analyze light scattering, reflection, diffraction, radiation, emission, convection, conduction, concentration and absorption properties and to maximize all of those elements in the design of materials, surfaces and structures
  • Bundles, clusters or other arrangements of optical fibers, single fibers or any other materials could be tuned to the entire spectrum of light
  • This embodiment may use any or all of the aforementioned steps in combination with each other or alone. This embodiment may use any or all of the aforementioned steps or any of the steps identified in any other embodiment in combination with each other or alone. The steps may be used in this order or in any other order with omission or addition of any other steps.
  • this invention may include exciting electromagnetic energy in a structure or material, which contains an addressable plasmon resonant frequency so as to influence one or more specific properties of said structure or material.
  • this provides a means to use electromagnetic excitation or light-matter interactions to influence, cause, control, modulate, stimulate or change the state or phase of electrical, magnetic, optical, thermal, acoustic or electromagnetic charge, emission, conduction, recording, information, data management, storage or similar properties.
  • the method could include the use of light-matter interactions to generate electromagnetic excitation and concentrate extremely localized field effects or concentrated plasmonic field effects to cause an exchange of energy states in a material or structure. Said field effects could be used for excitation of surface electrons in metallic nanostructures causing said electrons to exchange energy states or said field effects could be used to mediate or stimulate photon emissions or modulate photonic energy to excite or stimulate emissions of electrons.
  • the method of use disclosed could provide a means to realize local thermal conditions at the nanoscale below the diffraction limit for the electromagnetic waves used.
  • surface plasmon excitations may be used to achieve desired thermal conditions at the nanoscale.
  • Nanoscale objects or apertures at the nanoscale allow electromagnetic energy to be addressed, concentrated or restricted to critical dimensions that are below the diffraction limit of the wavelength of irradiation used. These concentrated fields can be used by means of absorption to efficiently heat volumes of material down to or below the scale of a single nanometer. Due to the small heat capacity that volume of material would cool rapidly when the electromagnetic excitation or light-matter interactions is terminated. Depending on the thermal environment of the heated volume cooling could take place on a timescale down to or below a single picosecond. The concentration could lead to massive field enhancements which may enable more precise control of light-matter interactions and local heating.
  • the invention described herein may be used for the initiation and control of catalysis, chemical reactions, photocatalysis, photochemical, photosynthesis, photovoltaic, electrocatalysis, catalytic chemical reactions and chemical synthesis including Fischer-Tropsch (FT), Haber-Bosch (HB) and other exothermic or endothermic reactions.
  • the method may incorporate metallic, nonmetallic, metalorganic, inorganic, nanoparticle catalysts or nanostructures containing said catalysts to be included in any structure or device.
  • a thin film crystal lattice nanostructure A thin film crystal lattice nanostructure
  • a flexible multi-dimensional film, screen or membrane is A flexible multi-dimensional film, screen or membrane
  • a MEMS or NEMS device A MEMS or NEMS device
  • a microfluidic or nanofluidic chip A single nanowire, nanotube or nanofiber
  • a cluster, array or lattice of nanowires, nanotubes or nanofibers A cluster, array or lattice of nanowires, nanotubes or nanofibers
  • a cluster, array or lattice of optical fibers A cluster, array or lattice of optical fibers
  • a cluster, array or lattice of nanoparticles A cluster, array or lattice of nanoparticles
  • Nanoparticles suspended in various liquids or solutions are nanoparticles suspended in various liquids or solutions.
  • Nanoparticles in the form of pellets, liquid, gas, plasma or otherwise are examples of pellets, liquid, gas, plasma or otherwise.
  • Nanostructures Nanostructures, nanoreactors, microstructures, microreactors, macrostructures or other devices
  • CMOS complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor
  • SOI semiconductor-oxide-semiconductor
  • germanium germanium
  • quartz glass
  • inductive conductive or insulation materials
  • integrated circuits wafers, or microchips
  • a conductor A paint, coating, powder or film in any form containing any of the materials identified herein or any other materials in any combination
  • All or any of the materials or forms described herein may be designed, used or deployed on or in flexible, elastic, conformable structures. Said structures or surface areas may be expanded or enlarged by the use of advanced non-planar, non-linear geometric and spatial configurations.
  • Nanowires are typically grown in random arrays using a variety of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques.
  • CVD chemical vapor deposition
  • the successful introduction of nanowires into electronic circuitry will require synthesis of nanowires in well-defined locations with controlled composition, diameter, and growth orientation.
  • CVD is a key process for the fabrication of semiconductors, microelectronics, photonics and nanomaterials.
  • There are a number of CVD methods in current use e.g. Laser Assisted CVD (LACVD), Low Pressure CVD (LPCVD), Metal-Organic CVD (MOCVD), Plasma Enhanced CVD (PECVD) and Thermal Activation CVD (TACVD).
  • LACVD Laser Assisted CVD
  • LPCVD Low Pressure CVD
  • MOCVD Metal-Organic CVD
  • PECVD Plasma Enhanced CVD
  • TACVD Thermal Activation CVD
  • the invention described herein includes a means to generate a thermal environment that can be controlled through the interaction of electromagnetic excitations with designed objects or apertures at length scales down to or below a single nanometer and timescales down to or below a single picosecond.
  • this invention may include initiation and control of electromagnetic energy in a structure or material, which contains an addressable plasmon resonant frequency, so as to influence one or more specific properties of said structure or material. It may also include combining conventional nanoparticle catalyzed CVD nanowire growth with surface plasmon induced local heating of the catalyst particle. Local heating of selected nanoscale regions can enable growth of nanowires in well-defined locations on a chip and thereby solve a number of issues associated with conventional CVD. Existing CVD methods for growing nanowires at positions defined by the precise placement of catalyst particles require relatively high temperatures. This makes conventional CVD unsuitable for positioning on many materials including plastics, glass and certain silicon surfaces used in standard semiconductor chip synthesis.
  • the invention described herein could be used to transfer heat generated in a specific location to one or many other locations.
  • Heat may be generated by some or any of the steps listed in the previous embodiments. Heat may be transferred without significant loss using materials with a low conductive index such as a plastic or polymer. Heat may also be transferred by metal encased in a low conductive index material. Heat can be transferred to a gas, liquid, solid, plasma or any other material and used for any purpose including to excite the molecular or kinetic properties of a gas or liquid for any purpose or to drive a turbine, engine, Stirling engine, generator, converter, photovoltaic converter, alternator, dynamo or any other device for the creation of electrical current.
  • a structure made of any material and in any shape, including a sphere, cylinder, or tube may contain or support a magnetic or conductive energy field
  • Movement of conductive materials or a magnetic field in proximity to one another may be converted into an electrical current by driving, rotating, spinning or moving the material or field
  • Heat may be converted into an electrical current by the use of thermoelectric nanostructures, structures materials or devices
  • the interior of said structure or material may be coated with metallic or nonmetallic nanoparticles, micro structures, or nanopatterned structures. 5) Said structure or material may be filled with a gas or liquid
  • a moving object may be introduced into said structure or material
  • Said moving object may incorporate metal or conductive windings, coils or other structures
  • Solar, laser or other light energy sources may be used to heat the metallic or nonmetallic nanoparticles, micro structures, or nanopatterned structures.
  • thermoelectric materials may generate an electrical current sufficient to activate a magnetic field
  • Said magnetic field may cause said moving object to be suspended within an enclosed raceway, groove, track or similar structure
  • Said heat may cause the gas or liquid to expand
  • Said expansion may cause the movement of said object within said structure
  • This embodiment may use any or all of the aforementioned steps in combination with each other or alone. This embodiment may use any or all of the aforementioned steps or any of the steps identified in any other embodiment in combination with each other or alone. The steps may be used in this order or in any other order with omission or addition of any other steps.
  • An electrical current generated from or by a plasmonic reactor device/composite solar cell or material may be conducted by a conduit. Whenever an alternating current is generated, it may be conducted to or for use at an electrical utility, electrical provider, an electrical grid or for any purpose or converted to a dielectric current and stored or used for any purpose. Whenever a dielectric current is generated, it may be stored, or converted to an alternating current and conducted to or for use at an electrical utility, electrical provider, an electrical grid or for any purpose.
  • the method of enabling the various functions, tasks or features contained in this invention includes performing the operation of some or all of the steps outlined in conjunction with the preferred processes or devices. This description of the operation and steps performed is not intended to be exhaustive or complete or to exclude the performance or operation of any additional steps or the performance or operation of any such steps or the steps in any different sequence or order.

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Abstract

Moyens pour utiliser ou combiner des procédés d'ingénierie thermique, plasmonique, photoniques, électroniques, photovoltaïques, de transfert optique, de transport de chaleur, de transport de lumière, de catalyse et de réactions chimiques individuellement ou dans toute combinaison pour amplifier ou générer de l'énergie solaire, optique, électrique ou autre. De plus, la présente invention concerne un moyen pour utiliser au moins une forme d'excitation électromagnétique ou d'interactions lumière-matière dans une structure ou un matériau muni d'une ou de plusieurs fréquences adressables pour générer l'échange d'énergie thermique, cinétique, électronique ou photonique. La présente invention concerne en outre un moyen pour utiliser au moins une forme d'excitation électromagnétique ou d'interaction lumière-matière, y compris une énergie solaire ou laser, pour générer des conditions localisées qui permettent l'initiation et le contrôle spatial et temporel de procédés de catalyse, de réactions chimiques, de dépôt, de croissance, de synthèse, de photocatalyse, de photosynthèse, de catalyse chimique, de catalyse photochimique, photovoltaïque, d'électrocatalyse et catalytiques.
PCT/US2007/087963 2006-11-16 2007-12-18 Procédé ou moyens pour utiliser ou combiner l'ingénierie plasmonique, thermique, photovoltaïque ou optique Ceased WO2008118234A2 (fr)

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US86616906P 2006-11-16 2006-11-16
US60/866,169 2006-11-16
US86662706P 2006-11-21 2006-11-21
US60/866,627 2006-11-21
US87068606P 2006-12-19 2006-12-19
US60/870,686 2006-12-19

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US20110117202A1 (en) * 2007-08-06 2011-05-19 Immunolight, Llc Up and down conversion systems for production of emitted light from various energy sources including radio frequency, microwave energy and magnetic induction sources for upconversion
US8389958B2 (en) 2009-03-18 2013-03-05 Duke University Up and down conversion systems for production of emitted light from various energy sources
US8507785B2 (en) 2007-11-06 2013-08-13 Pacific Integrated Energy, Inc. Photo induced enhanced field electron emission collector
US9348078B2 (en) 2010-06-08 2016-05-24 Pacific Integrated Energy, Inc. Optical antennas with enhanced fields and electron emission
US9526914B2 (en) 2007-11-06 2016-12-27 Duke University Non-invasive energy upconversion methods and systems
US20230088541A1 (en) * 2017-12-14 2023-03-23 Space Charge, LLC Device and method for high power-density thermoionc energy conversion
EP4339659A1 (fr) * 2022-09-15 2024-03-20 Universidade Do Porto Dispositif thermoplasmonique, système de transfert d'énergie sans fil respectif et procédé de fonctionnement respectif
WO2024057282A1 (fr) * 2022-09-15 2024-03-21 Universidade Do Porto Dispositif thermoplasmonique, système de transfert d'énergie sans fil respectif et procédé de fonctionnement respectif

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US10080275B2 (en) 2007-08-06 2018-09-18 Immunolight, Llc Up and down conversion systems for production of emitted light from various energy sources including radio frequency, microwave energy and magnetic induction sources for upconversion
US20110117202A1 (en) * 2007-08-06 2011-05-19 Immunolight, Llc Up and down conversion systems for production of emitted light from various energy sources including radio frequency, microwave energy and magnetic induction sources for upconversion
US9232618B2 (en) 2007-08-06 2016-01-05 Immunolight, Llc Up and down conversion systems for production of emitted light from various energy sources including radio frequency, microwave energy and magnetic induction sources for upconversion
US9526914B2 (en) 2007-11-06 2016-12-27 Duke University Non-invasive energy upconversion methods and systems
US10384071B2 (en) 2007-11-06 2019-08-20 Immunolight, Llc. Non-invasive energy upconversion methods and systems
US8507785B2 (en) 2007-11-06 2013-08-13 Pacific Integrated Energy, Inc. Photo induced enhanced field electron emission collector
US8969710B2 (en) 2007-11-06 2015-03-03 Pacific Integrated Energy, Inc. Photon induced enhanced field electron emission collector
US9526913B2 (en) 2007-11-06 2016-12-27 Duke University Non-invasive energy upconversion methods and systems
US8618509B2 (en) 2009-03-18 2013-12-31 Immunolight, Llc Up and down conversion systems for production of emitted light from various energy sources
US8389958B2 (en) 2009-03-18 2013-03-05 Duke University Up and down conversion systems for production of emitted light from various energy sources
US11324965B2 (en) 2009-04-21 2022-05-10 Immunoloight, Llc. Non-invasive energy upconversion methods and systems
CN102870235B (zh) * 2009-11-10 2016-11-23 免疫之光有限责任公司 用于从包括用于上变频的射频、微波能量和磁感应源的各种能量源产生发射光的上下变频系统
TWI572389B (zh) * 2009-11-10 2017-03-01 伊穆諾萊特公司 用於產生介質中之改變之儀器組及系統、用於產生光或固化之系統、輻射固化或可固化物品、微波或rf接受器及用於治療或診斷之系統
CN102870235A (zh) * 2009-11-10 2013-01-09 免疫之光有限责任公司 用于从包括用于上变频的射频、微波能量和磁感应源的各种能量源产生发射光的上下变频系统
US11589432B2 (en) 2009-11-10 2023-02-21 Immunolight, Llc. Up and down conversion systems for production of emitted light from various energy sources including radio frequency, microwave energy and magnetic induction sources for upconversion
US9348078B2 (en) 2010-06-08 2016-05-24 Pacific Integrated Energy, Inc. Optical antennas with enhanced fields and electron emission
US20230088541A1 (en) * 2017-12-14 2023-03-23 Space Charge, LLC Device and method for high power-density thermoionc energy conversion
EP4339659A1 (fr) * 2022-09-15 2024-03-20 Universidade Do Porto Dispositif thermoplasmonique, système de transfert d'énergie sans fil respectif et procédé de fonctionnement respectif
WO2024057282A1 (fr) * 2022-09-15 2024-03-21 Universidade Do Porto Dispositif thermoplasmonique, système de transfert d'énergie sans fil respectif et procédé de fonctionnement respectif

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