Issues concerned with the energy conversion of exothermal heterophase processes are discussed using the physico-chemical interaction between ZrO 2-Y 2 O 3 (3 mol %) nanopowder system and atmospheric moisture as an example. The electrical properties of an experimental sample are investigated upon moisture saturation in the case of a molecular-flow density gradient. A probable mechanism for the effect based on the theory of contact phenomena in semiconductors is proposed. The idea of developing chemical-electric converters fabricated from nanoscale materials with dielectric conduction is suggested.

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