Patent ID: 6946596
Filing Date: 2005-09-20
Classification: H01J,H01L

Abstract:
1. A tunneling-effect converter, comprising: an electric charge collector having a collector surface, wherein said collector surface is atomically smooth; an electric charge emitter having an emitter surface, wherein said emitter surface is atomically smooth and wherein said emitter surface is separated from said collector surface by a gap such that said emitter surface is separated from said collector surface by a distance that is less than or equal to about 5 nm; and a spacer between said collector and said emitter, wherein said spacer comprises a dielectric material in contact with said collector surface and with said emitter surface; wherein at least one of said collector and said emitter is a flexible electrode, the flexible electrode comprising a thin flexible layer, and said flexible layer comprises at least one of a a semiconductor material and the combination of a semiconductor material and a dielectric material, with an electrically conducting coating.