Solar Nanoantennas

[fivequotes]

hey great theory there.

[NickBlackDIN]

MiM diodes 'might' be the solution there looking for, at least,it's really close (perhaps MIM carbon tube diode's?)

[zassounotsukushi]

I concur with some of the skepticism expressed by the comments so far. Something is missing from the picture.

Blackbody radiation plays a role in establishing thermal equilibrium with all of the objects in an area. If the panel is at the same temperature as the environment no energy can be generated. 2nd law.

It can still harness solar infrared (as a PV). But efficiency would be low and at night you would barely get a trickle of energy from the differential of the Earth surface to the air.

[2ndKnight]

@zassounotsukushi The 2nd law goes beyond that. Even if there is a temperature differential between the antennas and the surroundings the 2nd law says they cannot work because there is no increase in entropy of the system plus surroundings. Any system that captures useful energy from electromagnetic radiation must work with an entropy gradient. Energy does not spontaneously run uphill.

[2ndKnight]

The antenna system seems isolated to me as there is no mass exchanged with its surroundings, only energy. The 2nd Law says that for any process the entropy of the universe must increase. As presented, the nanoantenna system would produce electrical energy which can do work (decrease entropy) with no net increase in entropy of the system plus its surroundings (the universe).

[2ndKnight]

There is just one big problem. For the antennas to work it would violate the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics. Consider a thought experiment start with two blocks of metal both at the same temperature and both in the same insulated box then use the apparatus to take the radiation from one to make electricity to add heat the other. This cannot happen in our universe. Useful energy can only be extracted from a system that has an entropy gradient.

[strickern]

Hello, I am an INL writer familiar with the project, and I appreciate your question. The antenna array is not an isolated system, as suggested by your thought experiment. In the preceding clip from the same episode (search YouTube for: Bang Goes the Theory microwave), they explain the principle and power a toy helicopter with antennas that capture microwaves. This would be impossible if the concept violated the 2nd law of thermodynamics.

Thanks for the chance to clarify,.

Nicole Stricker, INL

[2ndKnight]

Hi Nicole, Antenna systems (nano or otherwise) can be powered with sources of coherent radiation (low entropy forms) from radio transmitters, microwave transmitters, or lasers but not black body radiation. Photovoltaic cells, for example, absorb low entropy visible light, extract a bit of free energy, and give off high entropy heat or infrared radiation thus satisfying the 2nd law. In the proposed INL system where is the increase in entropy?

[strickern]

Hi 2ndKnight,

The 2nd law describes entropy in isolated systems - the antenna array system isn't isolated. Also, the nanoantennas don't perform work from heat, they create electricity from light energy, just like plants (chlorophyll is an inefficient antenna structure). There is a loss in the efficiency through the antennas and energy conversion, so conservation of entropy applies.

[boxa888]

@strickern what about cosmic rays? this is in the area to be capable of harnessing cosmic rays, i watch this video and it immediatly talks like a few of teslas radiant energy articles 100 yrs ago!! tesla said the end source of unlimited power rested in the harnessing of cosmic rays,there would exist energy both night and day because cosmic ray radiation can penetrated straight though solid matter and through the earth from all directions!! i made a small scale model that shows this on my YT

[trance183]

@boxa888 I have always asked the same question. What about the Cosmic Rays that Tesla and T.H.Moray mentioned ever so passionately? According to them its the Cosmic Rays that contain the most intense energy with the shortest wavelength/highest frequency. So I am planning to experiment with this idea as I learn more. We should get together and share ideas. :)

[boxa888]

@trance183 yea man! i really wish i could assemble a team, alot of people are just too far away, one day they will get this working and "accidentally" discover that they were picking up cosmic rays that made the power lol jk. but at this scale they are at the spectrum of cosmic rays with the sheet within a insulator like tesla said 100 years ago,which is interesting!!!

[trance183]

@boxa888 Well we should really exchange emails and maybe even hop on an instant messenger like yahoo and we could exchange ideas there. I have been hoping to meet someone locally to experiment with all my ideas. I am currently trying to extract more energy from regular radio waves. But it becomes alot harder when you deal with more higher frequencies like microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-ray, gamma-rays, and finally Cosmic Rays (the strongest).

[trance183]

@boxa888 Yes that sheet inside the plastic insulator is exactly what you did in your videos. I've been waiting for a while for you to experiment further with your projects. But I'm sure you are busy. Tesla's patent is the most basic form of this technology. T.H. Moray was the one who found a way to give Cosmic Rays a clear path to flow in.

[trance183]

@boxa888 Hey I sent you a message. Waiting for your response.