Electromotive Force in a Layer of Finely Dispersed Spontaneously Polarized Semiconductor

Abstract

The phenomenon of energy conversion by a thin layer of finely dispersed spontaneously polarized semiconductor sandwiched between two plane-parallel metallic electrodes (being in direct contact with them), upon exposure to hydrogen gas, is studied. When the device is incorporated in a closed electrical circuit, the powder layer acts as a source of direct current. We develop a theoretical model that presupposes that the heat absorbed by the powder layer from the surrounding environment is converted into electrical energy. The model is shown to be consistent with the experiment.

Phenomena in Polarized Disperse Systems Caused by Exchange-Correlation Interaction between Particles

“…In accordance with Le Chatelier's principle, the internal forces continuously pull the system back to its stationary state with a minimum potential energy U e . The source of energy for EMF is the system's internal energy [13] [14].…”

“…We will account for its granular structure by assuming that its static dielectric permittivity ε is negative. Using (12) and (13), and assuming that the semiconductor is approximately uniform on a macroscopic scale, we plug E = 0 into (12), and condition (12) will take the form…”

“…The zero ohmic loss has also been observed for a sine-wave current in finely dispersed compounds KMnO 4 [8] [10] and KNaC 4 H 4 O 6 •4Н 2 О [9] placed in molecular hydrogen and vacuum, respectively. In the case of the finely dispersed dielectrics KMnO 4 , Pb(NO 3 ) 2 and CsNO 3 with donor centers on the particle surfaces, there is observed spontaneous emergence of a macroscopic electric field [11] [12] [13]. This effect can result from mutual repulsion of opposite charges in the powder bulk due to the inequality ε < 0.…”

“…This effect can result from mutual repulsion of opposite charges in the powder bulk due to the inequality ε < 0. A spontaneously polarized KMnO 4 powder serves as a direct current source that absorbs heat from the ambient environment [13].…”

“…The aim of the present work is to carry out a theoretical study of conditions under which the static dielectric permittivity of the systems consisting of semiconductor and dielectric nano-and microparticles becomes negative. Besides, we have solved the problem of a theoretical description of the properties of such systems observed in the experiments [8]- [13].…”