Patent Description:
The energy conversion technologies for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy of prior art use a principle that electrical capacitance is being created in the electrode under a dielectric material by varying the contact surface of a liquid metal which is in contact with a dielectric material in accordance with the flow of time.

A method and a device for converting energy using a fluid of prior art is being disclosed in the D1 "Tom Krupenkin ET AL" which discusses reverse electrowetting as a new approach to high-power energy harvesting and in the <CIT>. In particular, <CIT> discloses a device comprising two substrates with electrodes, one of them being covered by a contact-line-pinning reduction layer. A conductive liquid is in contact with the contact-line-pinning reduction layer and with the opposite substrate.

<FIG> is a block diagram of a device of prior art for converting energy using a fluid. According to <FIG>, in a device of prior art for converting energy using a fluid, an electrode is formed to have a consistent pattern on the wall of a thin and long channel, and a dielectric material layer is formed above the electrode. Then, a little waterdrop-like conductive liquid and a non-conductive liquid are being injected into the channel, and by applying a voltage from an external power source to such a waterdrop-like conductive liquid, the conductive liquid is being depolarized.

At this state, when a physical pressure is applied to a predetermined portion (not shown) which is connected to the channel the depolarized waterdrop-like conductive liquid is moved along the channel, and during this process, the contact surface of the multiple electrodes, which is formed with a consistent pattern, with the moving multiple conductive liquid drop is continuously changing with time, and as a result, an electrical energy is generated due to the electrical capacitance change.

However, a method and a device of prior art for converting energy using a fluid have various problems for commercialization.

First, since a reversible movement, wherein a drop-like liquid metal, which has been moved inside the narrow and thin channel, is returning back to its original position when the external force is removed, is difficult, there is a limitation in that a separate lubricating layer is required and an inoperable condition happens due to the easy occurrence of the channel blocking phenomenon.

Moreover, since a method and a device of prior art for converting energy using a fluid adopt a narrow and thin channel structure, the two facing electrodes must be patterned with a fixed shape on the channel wall, and the device configuration becomes complicated due to such a structure, and the size of the module producing electrical energy becomes large, and there are many limitation in mass production or cost reduction.

In addition, as for other problems, it is harmful to the human body and the environment by using a liquid metal such as mercury or galinstan, and there is a limitation in that application of an external separate power source is required for depolarizing such a conductive liquid.

Further, a method and a device of prior art for converting energy using a fluid has problems in that the reversible movements in the channel structure must be continuously implemented, and the control is difficult since the two different kinds of immiscible liquids must be used.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a method and a device for converting energy using a fluid, especially for generating electrical energy by changing the contact surface between the liquid and the electrodes in the device.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a method and a device for converting energy having a simple structure, high conversion efficiency, and low failure rates by using an energy conversion layer.

To achieve above described objectives, an energy conversion device with the features of claim <NUM> is provides, using the change of the contact surface between liquid and an electrode includes comprising a first electrode substrate and a second electrode substrate which are spaced apart and facing each other; an ionic liquid or water which is in direct or indirect contact with the first electrode substrate and the second electrode substrate, wherein the contact surface of each electrode substrate is to be changed; and an energy conversion layer, which is stacked or deposited on at least one of the first electrode substrate and the second electrode substrate, generating electrical energy in accordance with the change of the contact surface to be directly or indirectly in contact with the ionic liquid or water.

Preferably, it is characterized in that the energy conversion layer includes at least one of an inorganic material layer, an organic material layer and a layer comprising a mixture of organic and inorganic materials.

Preferably, it is characterized in that the inorganic material layer and/or the organic material layer is formed, disposed and movable, so that the contact surface contacting the ionic water or liquid is changeable in the size.

Preferably, it is characterized in that the energy conversion devices are plurally connected in an array form.

Preferably, it is characterized in that at least a part of a plurality of substrates which constitute the plurality of energy conversion devices are supported by a common supporting structure.

Preferably, it is characterized in that at least one of the electrode substrates generates electrical energy by moving in such a way that a degree of immersion thereof into the ionic liquid or water changes.

Preferably, it is characterized in that a hydrophobic material layer is stacked on the energy conversion layer so as to facilitate the change of contact surface directly or indirectly contacting the ionic liquid or water in accordance with the change in the degree of immersion.

Preferably, it is characterized in that the hydrophobic material layer includes at least one of silane-based material, fluoropolymer material, trichlorosilane, trimethoxysilane, pentafluorophenylpropyltrichlorosilane, (benzyloxy) alkyltrimethoxysilane(BSM-<NUM>), (benzyloxy)alkyltri chlorosilane(BTS), hexamethyldisilazane(HMDS), octadecyltri chlorosilane(OTS), octadecyltrimethoxysilane(OTMS) and divinyltetramethyldisiloxane-bis(benzocyclobutene)(BCB).

Preferably, it is characterized in that the ionic liquid includes at least one of NaCl, LiCl, NaNO<NUM>, Na<NUM>SiO<NUM>, AlCl<NUM>-NaCl, LiCl-KCl, H<NUM>O, KCL, Na, NaOH H<NUM>SO<NUM>, CH<NUM>COOH, HF, CuSO<NUM>, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and AgCl.

An energy conversion device using the change of the contact surface between liquid and an electrodes includes: a first electrode substrate and a second electrode substrate which are spaced apart and facing each other; a conductive liquid which is in contact with the first electrode substrate and the second electrode substrate, wherein the contact surface of the each electrode substrate is to be changed; and an energy conversion layer, which is formed in at least one of the first electrode substrate and the second electrode substrate, generating electrical energy in accordance with the change of the contact surface.

Preferably, it is characterized in that the energy conversion layer is comprised of stacked layers of an inorganic material layer and an organic material layer, wherein a hydrophile material layer is stacked on the energy conversion layer so that the conductive liquid facilitates the change of the contact surface in accordance with the change.

According to the invention, the inorganic material layer or the organic material layer has a structure for enlarging the contact surface contacting the conductive liquid.

Preferably, it is characterized in that at least one of the electrode substrates generates electrical energy by moving in such a way that a degree of immersion thereof into the conductive liquid changes.

Preferably, it is characterized in that the hydrophile material layer includes: poly acrylic acid(PAA), acrylamides, maleic anhydride copolymers, methacrylate, ethacrylate, amine-functional polymers, amine-functional polymers, polystyrenesulfonate(PSS), vinyl acids, vinyl alcohols, or a material including at least one functional group of -NH, -CO-, amino group -NH<NUM>, hydroxyl group -OH and carboxyl group -COOH.

Preferably, it is characterized in that the range of the specific resistivity of the conductive liquid is 1µΩ/cm to 1000µΩ/cm, and the dielectric constant K is lower than or equal to <NUM>.

Preferably, it is characterized in that the energy conversion layer includes: an organic material layer including at least one material of polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA), polyethylene(PE), polystyrene(PS), polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP), poly(<NUM>-vinylpenol)(PVP) or polyethersulfone(PES), poly(<NUM>-methoxyphenylacrylate; PMPA), poly(phenylacrylate)(PPA), poly(<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-trifluoroethyl methacrylate)(PTFMA), cyanoethylpullulan(CYEPL), polyvinyl chloride(PVC), poly(parabanic acid resin)(PPA), poly(t-butylstyrene)(PTBS), polythienylenevinylene(PTV), polyvinylacetate(PVA), poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA), poly(rmethylstyrene)(PAMS), poly(vinyl alcohol)-co-poly(vinyl acetate)-co-poly(itaconic acid)(PVAIA), polyolefin, polyacrylate, parylene-C, polyimide, octadecyltrichlorosilane(OTS), poly(triarylamine)(PTTA), poly-<NUM>-hexylthiophene(P3HT), cross-linked poly-<NUM>-vinylphenol(cross-linked PVP), poly(perfluoroalkenylvinyl ether), nylon-<NUM>, n-octadecylphosphonic acid(ODPA), polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE), silicone, polyurethane, latex, cellulose acetate, poly(hydroxy ethyl methacrylate)(PHEMA), polylactide(PLA), polyglycolide(PGA) and polyglycolide-co-lactide(PGLA); and an inorganic material layer including at least one material of SiO<NUM>, TiO<NUM>, Al<NUM>O<NUM>, Ta<NUM>O<NUM>, tantalum pentoxide, zinc oxide(ZnO), tantalum pentoxide(Ta<NUM>O<NUM>), yttrium oxide(Y<NUM>O<NUM>), cerium oxide(CeO<NUM>), titanium dioxide(TiO<NUM>), barium titanate(BaTiO<NUM>), barium zirconate titanate(BZT), zirconium dioxide(ZrO<NUM>), lanthanum oxide(La<NUM>O<NUM>), hafnon(HfSiO<NUM>), lanthanum aluminate(LaAlO<NUM>), silicon nitride(Si<NUM>N<NUM>), perovskite materials, strontium titanate(SrTiO3), barium strontium titanate(BST), lead zirconate titanate(PZT), calcium copper titanate(CCTO), HfO<NUM>, apatite(A<NUM>(MO<NUM>)<NUM>X<NUM>), hydroxyapatite(Ca<NUM>(PO<NUM>)<NUM>(OH)<NUM>), tricalcium phosphate(Ca<NUM>(PO<NUM>)<NUM>), Na<NUM>O-CaO-SiO<NUM> and bioglass(CaO-SiO<NUM>-P<NUM>O<NUM>).

Preferably, it is characterized in that the first electrode substrate or the second electrode substrate includes an electrode, wherein the electrode is an inorganic electrode including at least one of ITO, IGO, chrome, aluminum, indium zinc oxide(IZO), indium gallium zinc oxide(IGZO), ZnO, ZnO<NUM> and TiO<NUM>; or a metal electrode including at least one of platinum, gold, silver, aluminum, iron and copper; or an organic electrode including at least one of polyethylenedioxythiophene(PEDOT), carbon nano tube(CNT), graphene, polyacetylene, polythiophene(PT), polypyrrole, polyparaphenylene(PPV), polyanilinep), poly sulfur nitride, stainless steel, iron alloy containing more than <NUM>% of crome, SUS <NUM>, SUS <NUM>, SUS <NUM>, Co-Cr alloy, Ti alloy, nitinol(Ni-Ti) and polyparaphenylenevinylene.

Preferably, it is characterized in that at least one of the first electrode substrate or the second electrode substrate is a metal substrate, a glass substrate, a ceramic substrate or a polymer material substrate, wherein the polymer material substrate is a plastic substrate or a film which includes at least one of polyethylene terephthalate(PET), polyarylate(PAR), polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA), polyethylenenaphthalate(PEN), polyethersulfone(PES), polyimide(PI), polycarbonate(PC) and fiber reinforced plastics(FRP), and the ceramic substrate is a substrate using a ceramic material which includes at least one of alumina(Al<NUM>O<NUM>), berilia(BeO), aluminum nitride(AlN), silicon carbide(SiC), mullite and silicon.

Preferably, it is characterized in that a non-conductive gas, which is disposed between the first electrode substrate and the second electrode substrate, is further included in the energy conversion device.

Preferably, the non-conductive gas includes at least one of air, oxygen, nitrogen, argon, helium, neon, krypton, xenon and radon.

The details of the other exemplary embodiments are included in the detailed description of embodiments and the drawings.

The present invention changes the contact surface of liquid between a pair of electrodes, and utilizes the resulting change in the contact surface of the liquid for electrical energy generation. Thus, it has an effect of implementing an energy conversion device having less failures with a simplified device structure and a reduced manufacturing cost by preventing the channel blocking phenomenon, and by not requiring any lubrication layer, or any complicatedly patterned electrodes in the channel.

In addition, the present invention is advantageous in that efficient electrical energy conversion is possible without separately applying external power.

And, the present invention has an effect on solving the harmful problem to the human body and the environment by using an ionic liquid or water.

The advantages and the features of the present invention, and the method for achieving thereof will become apparent with reference to the exemplary embodiments described in detail hereinafter with the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a structural illustration of an energy conversion device using the change of the contact surface of a liquid according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. According to <FIG>, an energy conversion device using the change of the contact surface of a liquid according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first electrode substrate <NUM> and a second electrode substrate <NUM> which are spaced apart and facing each other, wherein an ionic liquid or water <NUM>, which is in contact with the electrode substrates, and the contact surface thereof changes, is disposed between the electrode substrates.

In addition, energy conversion layers <NUM> and <NUM>, which generate electrical energy according to the change in the contact surface contacting the ionic liquid or water, are stacked on the first electrode substrate <NUM> or on the second electrode substrate <NUM>.

For the convenience of describing the energy conversion device using the change of the contact surface of a liquid according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is shown that the ionic liquid or water <NUM> is positioned between the first electrode substrate <NUM> and the second electrode substrate <NUM>. However, such structure is all right for that specific situation, therefore it should not be interpreted by limiting to any structural type to maintain such position.

An energy conversion device using the change of the contact surface of a liquid according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention generates electrical energy by changing the electrical capacitance of the electrodes included in the first electrode substrate <NUM> and the second electrode substrate <NUM> according to the change of the contact surface of the ionic liquid or water in the energy conversion layers <NUM> and <NUM>.

<FIG> is a conceptual diagram describing the operation principle of an energy conversion device using the change of the contact surface of a liquid according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in <FIG>, an energy conversion device using the change of the contact surface of a liquid according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention generates electrical energy as the ionic liquid or water <NUM> is moving between: the second electrode substrate <NUM>, wherein an inorganic material layer <NUM>, an organic material layer <NUM>, and a hydrophobic material layer <NUM> are sequentially stacked; and the first electrode layer <NUM> wherein a hydrophobic material layer <NUM> is stacked, while both the second electrode substrate <NUM> and the first electrode substrate <NUM> are being touched by the liquid or water <NUM>.

<FIG> is a conceptual diagram describing the operation principle of an energy conversion device using the change of the contact surface of a liquid according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is an exemplary embodiment for the convenience of describing that the first electrode substrate <NUM> and the second electrode substrate <NUM>, whereon the energy conversion layers are deposited, are immersed into the storage <NUM>, wherein the ionic liquid or water <NUM> is stored, and thereafter pulled out, however, the claims should not be limitedly interpreted based on this example.

As illustrated in <FIG>, at the initial moment, no electrical output energy is generated from the energy conversion device using change of contact surface contacting liquid. Later, as the assembly comprising the first electrode substrate <NUM> and the second electrode substrate <NUM> are being immersed into the storage <NUM> wherein the ionic liquid or water <NUM> is stored, at least one of the contact surface, the contact area and the contact angle between the electrodes, which are included in first electrode substrate <NUM> and the second electrode substrate <NUM>, and the ionic liquid and water <NUM> changes, thereby generating electrical energies V1 and V2, each having a constant polarity. At this time, when the assembly comprising the first electrode substrate <NUM> and the second electrode substrate <NUM> are being pulled out of the storage <NUM> wherein the ionic liquid or water <NUM> is stored, the initial electrical output energy becomes <NUM>. By repeating this process, a continual generation of energy becomes possible. <FIG> illustrates that the change of the contact area is generated by a simultaneous linear motion of a pair of the electrode substrates at a constant speed, however, an exemplary embodiment of the present example is not limited to this, and it may be equally applied to the case where a change occurs in the area which is being immersed in the liquid, that is the contact area, when a pair of electrode substrates are moving with different speeds from each other or in a non-linear manner.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of an energy conversion device using the change of the contact surface of a liquid according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which is described in <FIG>. Referring to <FIG>, the first electrode substrate <NUM> or the second electrode substrate <NUM> is configured such that the substrate <NUM> is surrounded by the electrode <NUM>. In addition, an inorganic material layer <NUM>, an organic material layer <NUM>, and a hydrophobic material layer <NUM> are sequentially stacked on the electrode <NUM> which surrounds the substrate <NUM>.

In such case, although an example comprising a pair comprising a first electrode substrate <NUM> and a second electrode substrate <NUM> is shown in <FIG>, it may be comprised of an odd number of pairs.

Again referring to <FIG>, according to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an energy conversion layer is comprised by stacking an inorganic material layer <NUM> and/or an organic material layer <NUM>. Preferably, a methods such as patterning, vacuum deposition, or spin coating may be used in forming such energy conversion layer.

In stacking the inorganic material layer <NUM> and the organic material layer <NUM> on the first electrode substrate <NUM> or on the second electrode substrate <NUM>, the order of stacking will not matter, however, they must be stacked adjacently.

Preferably, the inorganic material layer <NUM> and the organic material layer <NUM> may be alternately and repeatedly filed up when being stacked on the first electrode substrate <NUM> or on the second electrode substrate <NUM>. In other words, an energy conversion layer can be formed by repeatedly stacking the inorganic material layer <NUM> and the organic material layer <NUM>.

According to a preferred exmplary embodiment of the present invention, an inorganic material layer <NUM> or an organic material layer <NUM> is deposited such that a structure for enlarging the contact surface contacting the ionic liquid or water <NUM> is formed thereat.

<FIG> are side views illustrating the exemplary embodiments of the energy conversion layer of an energy conversion device using change of contact surface contacting liquid according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to <FIG>, an inorganic material layer <NUM> is deposited on the electrode <NUM> which is included in the first electrode substrate <NUM> as an energy conversion layer of an energy conversion device using change of contact surface contacting liquid according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The organic material layer <NUM> is stacked on the inorganic material layer <NUM> to form a micro structure having shapes such as a convex-concave shape shown in <FIG>, a sharply protruded shape shown in <FIG>, a semi sphere shape shown in <FIG>, and a spherical pit shape shown <FIG>. Preferably, the stacking order between the organic material layer <NUM> and the inorganic material layer <NUM> may be reversed, and the stacking material for forming the structure is not necessarily to be an organic material layer <NUM>.

Preferably, a hydrophobic material layer <NUM> is stacked on the organic material layer <NUM> which is being stacked for forming the structure so that the shape of the structure is being maintained.

Such shapes of the structure have effects on increasing the generation efficiency of electrical energy by enlarging the change in the contact area between the electrodes and the ionic liquid or water.

Again referring to <FIG>, the energy conversion devices using change of contact surface contacting liquid are plurally connected in an array form according to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As previously described, this is to increase the generation efficiency of electrical energy by enlarging the change in the contact area between the electrodes and the ionic liquid or water.

Meanwhile, when the energy conversion devices according to the present invention are used in plural forms, the substrates constituting the plural energy conversion device also form plural pairs, such multiple pairs of the electrodes are being supported by the common supporting structure (not shown), then being immersed in the ionic liquid or water, or being moved by a consistent external force and the like so that the contact area changes with time.

According to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a hydrophobic material layer <NUM> is stacked on the energy conversion layers <NUM> and <NUM> so as to facilitate the change of the contact surface between the electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> and the ionic liquid or water <NUM>.

Preferably, the hydrophobic material layer <NUM> may be stacked on the first electrode substrate <NUM> or on the second electrode substrate <NUM> wherein no energy conversion layer is formed.

According to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an organic material layer <NUM> includes one material of polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA), polyethylene(PE), polystyrene(PS), polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP), poly(<NUM>-vinylpenol)(PVP) or polyethersulfone(PES), poly(<NUM>-methoxyphenylacrylate; PMPA), poly(phenylacrylate)(PPA), poly(<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-trifluoroethyl methacrylate)(PTFMA), cyanoethylpullulan(CYEPL), polyvinyl chloride(PVC), poly(parabanic acid resin)(PPA), poly(t-butylstyrene)(PTBS), polythienylenevinylene(PTV), polyvinylacetate(PVA), poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA), poly(rmethylstyrene)(PAMS), poly(vinyl alcohol)-co-poly(vinyl acetate)-co-poly(itaconic acid)(PVAIA), polyolefin, polyacrylate, parylene-C, polyimide, octadecyltrichlorosilane(OTS), poly(triarylamine)(PTTA), poly-<NUM>-hexylthiophene(P3HT), cross-linked poly-<NUM>-vinylphenol(cross-linked PVP), poly(perfluoroalkenylvinyl ether), nylon-<NUM>, n-octadecylphosphonic acid(ODPA), polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE), silicone, polyurethane, latex, cellulose acetate, poly(hydroxy ethyl methacrylate)(PHEMA), polylactide(PLA), polyglycolide(PGA), or polyglycolide-co-lactide(PGLA). In addition, an inorganic material layer <NUM> includes at least one material of SiO<NUM>, TiO<NUM>, Al<NUM>O<NUM>, Ta<NUM>O<NUM>, tantalum pentoxide, zinc oxide(ZnO), tantalum pentoxide(Ta<NUM>O<NUM>), yttrium oxide(Y<NUM>O<NUM>), cerium oxide(CeO<NUM>), titanium dioxide(TiO<NUM>), barium titanate(BaTiO<NUM>), barium zirconate titanate(BZT), zirconium dioxide(ZrO<NUM>), lanthanum oxide(La<NUM>O<NUM>), hafnon(HfSiO<NUM>), lanthanum aluminate(LaAlO<NUM>), silicon nitride(Si<NUM>N<NUM>), perovskite materials, strontium titanate(SrTiO3), barium strontium titanate(BST), lead zirconate titanate(PZT), calcium copper titanate(CCTO), HfO<NUM>, apatite(A<NUM>(MO<NUM>)<NUM>X<NUM>), hydroxyapatite(Ca<NUM>(PO<NUM>)<NUM>(OH)<NUM>), tricalcium phosphate(Ca<NUM>(PO<NUM>)<NUM>), Na<NUM>O-CaO-SiO<NUM> and bioglass(CaO-SiO<NUM>-P<NUM>O<NUM>).

Preferably, a material having dielectric constant (K) lower than <NUM> may be used for the organic material <NUM>, and a material having dielectric constant (K) higher than <NUM> may be used for the inorganic material <NUM>.

According to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, hydrophobic material layer <NUM> includes at least one of silane-based material, fluoropolymer material, trichlorosilane, trimethoxysilane, pentafluorophenylpropyltrichlorosilane, (benzyloxy) alkyltrimethoxysilane(BSM-<NUM>), (benzyloxy) alkyltrichlorosilane(BTS), hexamethyldisilazane(HMDS), octadecyltrichlorosilane(OTS), octadecyltrimethoxysilane(OTMS) and divinyltetramethyldisiloxane-bis(benzocyclobutene)(BCB).

According to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the electrodes used in the first electrode <NUM> or the second electrode <NUM> is an inorganic electrode which includes at least one of ITO, IGO, chrome, aluminum, indium zinc oxide(IZO), indium gallium zinc oxide(IGZO), ZnO, ZnO<NUM> and TiO<NUM>; or a metal electrode including at least one of aluminum, iron or copper; or an organic electrode including at least one of polyethylenedioxythiophene(PEDOT), carbon nano tube(CNT), graphene, polyacetylene, polythiophene(PT), polypyrrole, polyparaphenylene(PPV), polyanilinep), poly sulfur nitride, stainless steel, iron alloy containing more than <NUM>% of chrome, SUS <NUM>, SUS <NUM>, SUS <NUM>, Co-Cr alloy, Ti alloy, nitinol(Ni-Ti) and polyparaphenylenevinylene.

In addition, according to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first electrode substrate <NUM> or the second electrode substrate <NUM> is a metal substrate, a glass substrate, a ceramic substrate, or a polymer material substrate. Here, the polymer material substrate is a plastic substrate or a film which includes at least one of polyethylene terephthalate(PET), polyarylate(PAR), polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA), polyethylenenaphthalate(PEN), 1polyethersulfone(PES), polyimide(PI), polycarbonate(PC) and fiber reinforced plastics(FRP). In addition, the ceramic substrate is a substrate using a ceramic material which includes at least one of alumina(Al<NUM>O<NUM>), berilia(BeO), aluminum nitride(AIN), silicon carbide(SiC), mullite and silicon.

According to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the ionic liquid <NUM> includes at least one of NaCl, LiCl, NaNO<NUM>, Na<NUM>SiO<NUM>, AlCl<NUM>-NaCl, LiCl-KCl, H<NUM>O, KCL, Na, NaOH H<NUM>SO<NUM>, CH<NUM>COOH, HF, CuSO<NUM>, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and AgCl.

According to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is configured to fill the space between the first electrode substrate <NUM> and the second electrode substrate <NUM> with a non-conductive gas. Generally, the space between the first electrode substrate <NUM> and the second electrode substrate <NUM> could be a normal aerial environment.

According to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the non-conductive gas includes at least one of air, oxygen, nitrogen, argon, helium, neon, krypton, xenon and radon.

<FIG> is a structural drawing of an energy conversion device using the change of the contact surface of a liquid according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to <FIG>, an energy conversion device using the change of the contact surface of a liquid according to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first electrode substrate <NUM> and a second electrode substrate <NUM> which are spaced apart and facing each other, wherein a conductive liquid <NUM>, which is in contact with the electrode substrates and the contact surface thereof changes, is positioned between the electrode substrates.

In addition, energy conversion layers <NUM> and <NUM>, which generate electrical energy in accordance with the change in the contact surface contacting the conductive liquid <NUM>, are stacked on the first electrode substrate <NUM> and the second electrode substrate <NUM>.

According to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is preferred that the conductive liquid <NUM> may use mercury, lithium, gallium, kalium, NaK, bismuth, tin, natrium, natrium-kalium alloy, and the like; the range of the specific resistivity is 1µΩ/cm to 1000µΩ/cm, and the dielectric constant K is lower than or equal to <NUM>.

According to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a hydrophile material layer <NUM> is stacked on the energy conversion layers <NUM> and <NUM> so as to facilitate the change of the contact surface between the conductive liquid <NUM> and the electrode substrates <NUM> and <NUM>.

According to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a hydrophile material layer <NUM> includes poly acrylic acid(PAA), acrylamides, maleic anhydride copolymers, methacrylate, ethacrylate, amine-functional polymers, amine-functional polymers, polystyrenesulfonate(PSS), vinyl acids, vinyl alcohols, and materials including one functional group of -NH, -CO-, amino group -NH<NUM>, hydroxyl group -OH or carboxyl group - COOH.

Besides, in the above described exemplary embodiment using a conductive liquid, the detailed descriptions of the technical contents related to materials of the electrodes or the substrates constituting the first electrode substrate <NUM> and the second electrode substrate <NUM>, the features and the structure of the inorganic material layer <NUM> and the organic material layer <NUM>, the usage of the energy conversion devices of the present invention in a multiple manner, and the like are omitted since it can be configured according to the foregoing exemplary embodiments using the ionic liquid or water, or the contents described in <FIG> or <FIG>, and <FIG>.

As reviewed before, when compared with prior art using more than two different kinds of liquids, the present invention may prevent blocking and mixing phenomena inside the channel, and also it does not require any lubricating layer.

Furthermore, although the technologies of prior art suggests an insulation layer comprising a single self assembly molecular monolayer and a single dielectric layer, or more layers of non-conductive layers, or the various combination thereof, however, the present invention suggests a structure for optimizing the energy conversion efficiency. In other words, when using an ionic liquid, it is configured to have a structure of electrode/inorganic material layer/organic material layer/hydrophobic material layer or electrode/organic material layer/inorganic material layer/hydrophobic material layer (according to the stacking order) on at least one side of the substrate of the first electrode substate or the second electrode substrate; when using a conductive liquid, it is configured to have a structure of electrode/inorganic material layer/organic material layer/hydrophile material layer or electrode/organic material layer/inorganic material layer/hydrophile material layer (according to the stacking order) on both of the first electrode substrate and the second electrode substrate.

Claim 1:
An energy conversion device using change of contact surface contacting liquid, comprising:
a) a first electrode substrate (<NUM>) and a second electrode substrate (<NUM>) which are spaced apart and facing each other;
b1) the first electrode substrate (<NUM>) or the second electrode substrate (<NUM>) having an energy conversion layer (<NUM>, <NUM>) stacked or deposited thereon, or
b2) both the first electrode substrate (<NUM>) and the second electrode substrate (<NUM>) having a respective energy conversion layer (<NUM>, <NUM>) stacked or deposited thereon,
c) an ionic liquid or water (<NUM>) which, in case b1), is in contact with the energy conversion layer (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the electrode substrate (<NUM>) on which the energy conversion layer (<NUM>, <NUM>) is not stacked or deposited, and which, in case b2), is in contact with both respective energy conversion layers (<NUM>, <NUM>);
d) the respective energy conversion layer (<NUM>, <NUM>), which is stacked or deposited on at least one of the first electrode substrate (<NUM>) and the second electrode substrate (<NUM>), generating electrical energy in accordance with a change of an overlapping area of the contact surface between the ionic liquid or water (<NUM>) and the energy conversion layer (<NUM>, <NUM>) when the ionic liquid or water (<NUM>) is moving in case b1) between the electrode substrate (<NUM> or <NUM>) and the energy conversion layer (<NUM>, <NUM>), or in case b2) between the energy conversion layers (<NUM>, <NUM>),
e) wherein the energy conversion layer (<NUM>, <NUM>) includes at least one of an inorganic material layer (<NUM>), an organic material layer (<NUM>) or a layer comprising a mixture of organic and inorganic materials and wherein the inorganic material layer (<NUM>) and/or the organic material layer (<NUM>) is formed as a micro structure having shapes such as a convex-concave shape, a sharply protruded shape, a semi sphere shape, or a spherical pit shape for enlarging the contact surface contacting the ionic liquid or water (<NUM>).