Unified Quantum Model of Work Generation in Thermoelectric Generators, Solar and Fuel Cells

Abstract

Abstract:In the previous papers, the idea of "hidden oscillations" has been applied to explain work generation in semiconductor photovoltaic cells and thermoelectric generators. The aim of this paper is firstly to extend this approach to fuel cells and, secondly, to create a unified quantum model for all types of such devices. They are treated as electron pumps powered by heat or chemical engines. The working fluid is electron gas and the necessary oscillating element ("piston") is provided by plasma oscillation. Those oscillations are localized around the junction that also serves as a diode rectifying fast electric charge oscillations and yielding a final output direct current (DC). The dynamics of the devices are governed by the Markovian master equations that can be derived in a rigorous way from the underlying Hamiltonian models and are consistent with the laws of thermodynamics. The new ingredient is the derivation of master equations for systems driven by chemical reactions.

Proposal of a Realistic Stochastic Rotor Engine Based on Electron Shuttling

“…First, thermoelectric devices, which use the interplay of thermal and chemical gradients to perform useful tasks, were proposed [1][2][3][4][5][6] and experimentally realized using quantum dot (QD) structures [7][8][9][10]. Second, self-oscillating machines, which are coupled to multiple thermal reservoirs, were analyzed theoretically [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] and experimentally [21][22][23]. While moving parts can be challenging to implement in nanoscale systems, self-oscillating machines offer the possibility to study the use and conversion of mechanical work within an autonomous setting that does not rely on time-dependent control fields.…”

A quantum open system model of molecular battery charged by excitons

“…This relation appears in various contexts, for example describes the open circuit voltage (eV oc ≡ µ a − µ b ) in photovoltaic, thermoelectric and chemical cells [15], [11]. Its thermodynamical meaning is quite clear.…”

“…A chemical bath [11] is a collection of K separated baths each consisting of many molecules of a given type. The whole bath is described by the density matrix corresponding to the grand canonical ensemble at the temperature T 1 and the chemical potentials µ jρ…”

From the GKLS Equation to the Theory of Solar and Fuel Cells

“…The following class of quantum engine models has been used to describe the operation principles of photovoltaic, thermoelectric and fuel cells in [22]- [24]. The basic tool is a GKLS eq.…”

“…This last Section is devoted to a new model of a quantum open system which can be called chemical engine, but can also work in the regime of replicator. The basic difference in comparison with the models of previous Sections is that our attention is now concentrated on the dynamics of the piston, represented here by a quantum harmonic oscillator (compare also to the model of fuel cell in [24] and the quantum piston model in [31]). It allows to discuss rigorously the transition from the autonomous models with quantum pistons to those with periodic modulations.…”