A thermotunneling converter is disclosed comprising a pair of electrodes
having inner surfaces substantially facing one another, and a spacer or
plurality of spacers positioned between the two electrodes, having a
height substantially equal to the distance between the electrodes, and
having a total cross-sectional area that is less than the cross-sectional
area of either of the electrodes. In a preferred embodiment, a vacuum is
introduced, and in a particularly preferred embodiment, gold that has been
exposed to cesium vapor is used as one or both of the electrodes. In a
further embodiment, the spacer is made of small particles disposed between
the electrodes. In a yet further embodiment, a sandwich is made containing
the electrodes with an unoxidized spacer. The sandwich is separated and
the spacer is oxidized, which makes it grow to a required height whilst
giving it insulatory properties, to allow for tunneling between the
electrodes.
