Patent ID: 11935667
Assignee: SPARK THERMIONICS, INC.
Field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC G  H | IPC G  H

Claim 12:
13. A method for thermionic energy conversion, comprising, at a thermionic energy converter (TEC) defining a chamber, the TEC comprising an electron emitter, an electron collector, and an interfacial layer that mechanically couples the electron collector to a wall of the chamber, the interfacial layer defining a reservoir:
receiving heat;
providing a work function reduction material from the reservoir to the electron emitter;
at the electron emitter, receiving the work function reduction material;
at the electron emitter, in response to receiving the work function reduction material and a first portion of the heat, emitting electrons into the chamber;
at the electron collector, receiving electrons emitted by the electron emitter, wherein the electron collector opposes the electron emitter across the chamber; and
in response to emitting and receiving electrons, providing electrical power to an external load, wherein the external load is electrically coupled between the electron collector and the electron emitter.