@article{cee55d6a67b941739dbfa45cda9ddab6,
title = "Thermionic Energy Conversion in the Twenty-first Century: Advances and Opportunities for Space and Terrestrial Applications",
abstract = "Thermionic energy conversion (TEC) is the direct conversion of heat into electricity by the mechanism of thermionic emission, the spontaneous ejection of hot electrons from a surface. Although the physical mechanism has been known for over a century, it has yet to be consistently realized in a manner practical for large-scale deployment. This perspective article provides an assessment of the potential of TEC systems for space and terrestrial applications in the twenty-first century, overviewing recent advances in the field and identifying key research challenges. Recent developments as well as persisting research needs in materials, device design, fundamental understanding, and testing and validation are discussed.",
keywords = "electron emission, heat engine, thermal energy conversion, thermionic emission, thermionic energy conversion",
author = "Go, {David B.} and Haase, {John R.} and Jeffrey George and Jochen Mannhart and Robin Wanke and Alireza Nojeh and Robert Nemanich",
note = "Funding Information: The authors would like to acknowledge all participants at the 2014 Workshop on Thermionic Energy Conversion for Space and Terrestrial Applications, and especially William F. Paxton, Terrence Musho, and Tony Pan for providing Figures 2, 4 and 6, respectively. DG acknowledges the National Science Foundation under Grant Number 1254273. JH acknowledges support from both the National Aeronautic and Space Administration under NASA{\textquoteright}s Space Technology Research Fellowship, Grant Number NNX13AL78H, and the Arthur J. Schmitt Society through the Arthur J. Schmitt Presidential Fellowship. AN acknowledges financial support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (RGPIN-2017-04608, RGPAS-2017-507958, SPG-P 478867), the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund, BCFRST/the British Columbia Innovation Council, and the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies. This research was undertaken thanks in part to funding from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund, Quantum Materials and Future Technologies Program. AN also acknowledges CMC Microsystems for the provision of products and services that facilitated this research. RN acknowledges the support of the Office of Naval Research through grant N00014-10-1-0540. Funding Information: The authors would like to acknowledge all participants at the 2014 Workshop on Thermionic Energy Conversion for Space and Terrestrial Applications, and especially William F. Paxton, Terrence Musho, and Tony Pan for providing Figures 2, 4 and 6, respectively. DG acknowledges the National Science Foundation under Grant Number 1254273. JH acknowledges support from both the National Aeronautic and Space Administration under NASA{\textquoteright}s Space Technology Research Fellowship, Grant Number NNX13AL78H, and the Arthur J. Schmitt Society through the Arthur J. Schmitt Presidential Fellowship. AN acknowledges financial support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (RGPIN-2017-04608, RGPAS-2017-507958, SPG-P 478867), the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund, BCFRST/ the British Columbia Innovation Council, and the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies. This research was undertaken thanks in part to funding from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund, Quantum Materials and Future Technologies Program. AN also acknowledges CMC Microsystems for the provision of products and services that facilitated this research. RN acknowledges the support of the Office of Naval Research through grant N00014-10-1-0540. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Copyright {\textcopyright} 2017 Go, Haase, George, Mannhart, Wanke, Nojeh and Nemanich.",
year = "2017",
month = nov,
day = "8",
doi = "10.3389/fmech.2017.00013",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "3",
journal = "Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering",
issn = "2297-3079",
publisher = "Frontiers Media S. A.",
}