Forty microampere current was generated on a platinum-titanium dioxide Schottky diode during the platinum catalyzed steady-state oxidation of carbon monoxide at 80 degrees C. For reaction events that produced four CO(2) molecules, three injected electrons were collected in a diode comprising a 5 nm thick platinum and a 150 nm titanium dioxide film. The electron injection flux depends on the thickness of the platinum and the titanium dioxide diode properties as well as the conditions of the catalytic reactions.

We report steady-state conversion of chemical reaction energy into hot electrons by ballistic injection into a platinum-gallium nitride (Pt/GaN) nanodiode during the platinum-catalyzed oxidation of carbon monoxide. Surface catalytic reactions of molecules from the gas phase generated continuous steady-state hot electron currents with energies at least that of Schottky barrier energy ( approximately 1 eV). These hot electron currents were observed on two different nanodiodes (Pt/TiO2 and Pt/GaN) and represent a new method of chemical energy conversion.

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Analysis of the data gathered during the Comet Halley encounter during 1987 resulted in a body of literature asserting that all comets contain substantial percentages of; hydrocarbon solids. These solids appear to have a strong similarity to petrochemicals. Arguments are made that the amount of hydrocarbon material in the accessible comets of the inner Solar System can substantially exceed the known reserves of hydrocarbons on Earth.An example is given of at least one conceptually simple method to use comet material as feedstock for space transportation schemes that can move masses through the solar system comparable to the mass carried by oil supertankers.The presentation concludes we need to send prospecting and assay probes to a sampling of the accessible comets to determine the amount of hydrocarbons and the form and location of materials needed for space transportation systems.