Applying Novel Materials and Fabrication Techniques to Thermionic Energy Conversion

Spark proposes to develop a transformative heat-to-electricity conversion device based on thermionic energy conversion for portable power, unmanned systems and other military / commercial applications. Thermionic energy conversion has the potential to leapfrog competing solid-state conversion in efficiency and power density, but has been largely neglected for decades. The proposed research is a unique opportunity to transform historic thermionics by applying a new technique for stable low work function combined with modern microfabrication techniques to yield high efficiency and ultra-high power density thermionic conversion. The proposed effort aims to integrate innovations demonstrated during Phase I into encapsulated devices and systems. If successful, the resulting thermionic energy converters will feature performance that far exceeds all other forms of direct thermal-to-electricity conversion, and enable thermal-to-electricity conversion efficiency greater than competing mechanical engines, all in a package scalable from watts to megawatts.