Device for converting thermal energy into electrical energy

Claim 1

A VACUUM DEVICE FOR CONVERTING THERMAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A CONDUCTIVE BASE MEMBER, A CONDUCTIVE COLLECTOR MEMBER SPACED FROM SAID BASE MEMBER AND AN INTERPOSED BODY OF ELECTRON EMISSIVE SEMICONDUCTIVE MATERIAL IN THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID BASE MEMBER AND SAID COLLECTOR MEMBER, SAID DEVICE BEING MADE BY THE METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF CCOATING SAID CONDUCTIVE BASE MEMBER WITH A COATING MATERIAL OF AT LEAST ONE MEMBER OF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF BARIUM CARBONATE, STRONTIUM CARBONATE, CALCIUM CARBONATE, CERIUM OXIDE, ZIRCONIUM OXIDE, TITANIUM OXIDE, THORIUM, OXIDE, BARIUM TITANATE, BARIUM BERYLLATE AND BARIUM THORIATE, PLACING SAID CONDUCTIVE COLLECTOR MEMBER IN INTIMATE CONTACT WITH THE SURFACE OF SAID COATING MATERIAL AND HEATING SAID CONDUCTIVE BASE MEMBER, SUBSEQUENT TO SAID PLACING STEP, SO THAT SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF SAID COATING MATERIAL IS AN ELECTRON EMISSIVE SEMICONDUCTIVE MATERIAL OF AT LEAST ONE MEMBER OF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF BARIUM OXIDE, STRONTIUM OXIDE, CALCIUM OXIDE, CERIUM OXIDE, ZIRCONIUM OXIDE, TITANIUM OXIDE, THORIUM OXIDE, BARIUM TITANATE, BARIUM BERYLLATE AND BARIUM THORIATE.