Local Thermo-EMF and Nano-Limits of Efficiency

Abstract

Thermoelectronics includes invariant elements of thermoelectricity, thermoemission and theory of p-n junction. And the local Nano-Thermo-Electromotive Forces (EMFs) discovered and used to build this unified theory of nano-scale, which are orders of magnitude superior to the seebeck EMF, are not only a diagnostic tool for any microelements, but can also be used to increase the Energy conversion efficiency of all traditional electronic devices. But most importantly, they prompted understanding that between the micro and marco-worlds, Physics missed a scale where their linear approximations do not work, but the Thermoelectronic Laws of the nano-scale work. Whereas the macroscopic response from nano-effects, in contrast to its acceptance as due from quantum effects, with reference to Thermodynamics, due to not taking into account prigogine’s production of Local Entropy, was generally considered forbidden. Thus, Thermoelectricity, which was initially included in the fundamentals of Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics, returned again to the Fundamental Science of the nano-scale missed by Physics and actually expanded Electronics to thermoelectronics. Taking into account the thermoelectronic effects allowed us to identify previously unaccounted aspects of increasing the efficiency of energy conversion of the scale missed in theories. In addition, the refinement and expansion of the theory of thermoelectricity became the background (basis) of all evidence-based fundamental physics.