Claims
- 1. A method of generating energy comprising:using a reactant to generate vibrationally energized species in the vicinity of the reactant; and converting vibrational energy of the vibrationally energized species into a useful form of energy before the vibrationally energized species reaches thermal equilibrium, the converting being performed using a nanolayer, nanocluster, quantum well, or combinations thereof.
- 2. The method of generating energy as claimed in claim 1, further including collecting the form of energy.
- 3. The method of generating energy s claimed in claim 1, wherein the using a reactant includes using a catalyst to initiate a reaction to create the vibrationally energized species.
- 4. The method of generating energy claimed in claim 1, wherein at least some of energized species is in contact with the reactant.
- 5. The method of generating energy a claimed in claim 1, wherein the form of energy includes one or more selected from the group of phonons, electromagnetic energy, and electrons.
- 6. The method of generating energy a claimed in claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic energy is a photon.
- 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting is performed within several tens of nanometers of a reaction of the reactant.
- 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:removing equilibrated species from the surface by using a catalyst.
- 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the vibrationally energized species include highly vibrationally energized species.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
This is a continuation of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/589,669 filed on Jun. 7, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,859 which is a Divisional Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/304,979 filed May 4, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,114,620.
US Referenced Citations (18)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1230509 |
Dec 1966 |
DE |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (3)
Entry |
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Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/589669 |
Jun 2000 |
US |
Child |
10/038257 |
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US |