Method and device for generating electricity and method of fabrication thereof

Abstract

Particulated structures and their method of manufacture for use in an electrical generator employing gas-mediated charge transfer are disclosed. The structures comprise a multiplicity of particles which contain voids between first and second opposing surfaces of said particles. At least a portion of said opposing surfaces are modified such that the charge transferability of said first opposing surfaces differs from the charge transferability of said second opposing surfaces.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of fabricating a particulated structure for use in an electrical generator utilizing a compatible gas to mediate charge transfer between particles, the method comprising:
 forming a structure from a multiplicity of particles, wherein said structure contains inter-particle voids between first and second opposing surfaces of at least some of said particles; and   asymmetrically modifying at least a portion of said opposing surfaces such that, following said modification, in conjunction with the compatible gas and while said particles are in dried state, a concentration or type of molecules, atoms or ions is different on said first opposing surface than on said second opposing surface.   
     
     
         2 . A method of fabricating an electrical generator device for converting thermal energy to electricity, the method comprising:
 executing the method according to  claim 1 ; and   introducing a gas medium having gas molecules to occupy at least a portion of said voids.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said forming is performed while the particles are in a slurry, and the method further comprises drying or evacuating a fluid from at least a portion of said structure. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein said forming is effected by coating, casting, molding, application of mechanical pressure to said slurry, rod coating, spray coating, spin coating, slurry extrusion, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein said drying or evacuating is performed prior to said modification. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein said drying or evacuating is performed subsequent to said modification. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said modification comprises an electrochemical modification performed in a liquid, and the method further comprises drying or evacuating a fluid from at least a portion of said structure subsequent to said modification. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the liquid comprises a polar solvent. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the liquid comprises a non-polar solvent. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the liquid further comprises one or more electroactive species selected from the group comprising salts, dyes, oxides, monomers and surfactants. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said modification comprises an electrochemical modification performed in a gaseous environment. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said modification comprises electrothermal modification. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said modification is performed in the presence of an electric field generally perpendicular to said opposing surfaces, said electric field being generated by an external power source. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising applying to said structure surface electrodes having different work function, wherein said modification of said surfaces of said particles is performed at least in part by an electric field generated by virtue of said difference in work function. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein an average thickness of said particles is less than 1 μm. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the longest dimension of said particles is less than 1 millimeter. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein voids between said particles are maintained by spacers. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein voids between said particles are maintained by outwardly protruding roughness features. 
     
     
         19 . A method of modifying a particulated structure, the particulated structure having a multiplicity of particles and inter-particle voids between first and second opposing surfaces of at least some of said particles, the method comprising:
 providing the particulated structure; and   asymmetrically modifying at least a portion of said opposing surfaces such that, following said modification, in conjunction with a gas occupying said inter-particle voids, and while said particles are in dried state, a concentration or type of molecules, atoms or ions is different on said first opposing surface than on said second opposing surface.   
     
     
         20 . A particulated structure, comprising a multiplicity of particles collectively forming a solid structure, the particulated structure being modified by a method which comprises asymmetrically modifying at least a portion of opposing surfaces defining inter-particle voids therebetween, such that, following said modification, in conjunction with a gas occupying said inter-particle voids, and while said particles are in dried state, a concentration or type of molecules, atoms or ions is different on a first opposing surface of said opposing surfaces than on a second opposing surface of said opposing surfaces.