Novasolix, Inc.

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Jyotsna Iyer

Laurence Hager Cooke

Paul B Comita

Andreas G Hegedus

Alfred A Zinn

Robert E Cousins

Ike C Hsu

A method for constructing a solar rectenna array by growing carbon nanotube antennas between lines of metal, and subsequently applying a bias voltage on the carbon nanotube antennas to convert the diodes on the tips of the carbon nanotube antennas from metal oxide carbon diodes to geometric diodes. Techniques for preserving the converted diodes by adding additional oxide are also described.

Solar antenna array fabrication

Heat spreaders can help promote heat distribution at the surface of a heat sink. However, overly isotropic or anisotropic heat conduction through heat spreaders can limit their effectiveness. Heat spreaders providing for lateral distribution of heat can include a tapered structure containing a metal-diamond composite. The metal-diamond composite includes a continuous metallic phase and a plurality of micron-scale diamond particles located in spaced apart regions of the continuous metallic phase. An interlayer containing the continuous metallic phase but lacking micron-scale diamond particles is disposed between each of the spaced apart regions, and the metal-diamond composite increases in lateral size in a direction of increased tapering. Heat spreaders can be formed by disposing a first mixture containing micron-scale diamond particles and metal nanoparticles in first regions that are vertically spaced apart from each other, and at least partially fusing the metal nanoparticles to form a tapered structure.

Heat spreaders fabricated from metal nanoparticles

A solar antenna array may comprise an array of carbon nanotube antennas that may capture and convert sunlight into electrical power. A method for constructing the solar antenna array from a glass top down to aluminum over a plastic bottom such that light passing through the glass top and/or reflected off the aluminum both may be captured by the antennas sandwiched between. Techniques for patterning the glass to further direct the light toward the antennas and techniques for continuous flow fabrication and testing are also described.

Withdrawing thermal energy obtained from a focused input of solar radiation can be complicated by issues associated with heat transfer media presently used for this purpose. By disposing carbon nanotubes on a fluidizable support and utilizing the carbon nanotubes as a fluidizable heat transfer medium, improved heat transfer characteristics can be realized due to the near-blackbody thermal absorption properties of the carbon nanotubes, in addition to other provided advantages. Concentrating solar power systems can include: a solar receiving structure configured to receive a focused input of solar radiation, a fluidized bed heat transfer medium within the solar receiving structure, and an energy-generating structure in thermal communication with the fluidized bed heat transfer medium. The fluidized bed heat transfer medium contains a plurality of fluidizable heat transfer particles, and the fluidizable heat transfer particles include a plurality of carbon nanotubes bonded to a plurality of fluidizable particles.

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Saratoga, CA, United States of America

Jyotsna Iyer