Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-2005
Journal Title
The Journal of Chemical Physics
Volume Number
122
Issue Number
20
First Page
204713-1
Last Page
204713-11
DOI
10.1063/1.1908411
Version
Publisher PDF: the final published version of the article, with professional formatting and typesetting
Disciplines
Physics
Abstract
We propose the application of the contact potential from metal-metal junctions or the built-in potential of semiconductor p-np-n junctions to induce or catalyze chemical reactions. Free of external sources, this intrinsic potential across microscale and nanoscale vacuum gaps establishes electric fields in excess of 10^7V/m. The electrostatic potential energy of these fields can be converted into useful chemical energy. As an example, we focus on the production of superthermal gas ions to drive reactions. Analysis indicates that this intrinsically biased electrocapacitive catalysis can achieve locally directed ion energies up to a few electron volts and local gas temperatureboosts in excess of 10^4K. Practical considerations for implementation and experimental tests are considered.
Digital USD Citation
Sheehan, D. P. and Seideman, T., "Intrinsically biased electrocapacitive catalysis" (2005). Physics and Biophysics: Faculty Scholarship. 10.
https://digital.sandiego.edu/phys-faculty/10