Synthetic thermoelectric materials comprising phononic crystals

DWPI Title: Synthetic thermoelectric material used in thermoelectric device e.g. thermoelectric generator, has phononic crystals which are provided with periodic array of scattering centers embedded in host matrix
Abstract: Synthetic thermoelectric materials comprising phononic crystals can simultaneously have a large Seebeck coefficient, high electrical conductivity, and low thermal conductivity. Such synthetic thermoelectric materials can enable improved thermoelectric devices, such as thermoelectric generators and coolers, with improved performance. Such synthetic thermoelectric materials and devices can be fabricated using techniques that are compatible with standard microelectronics.
Use: Synthetic thermoelectric material used in thermoelectric device (claimed) such as thermoelectric generator and thermoelectric cooler.
Advantage: The thermoelectric material can be provided with a large See beck coefficient, high electrical conductivity and low thermal conductivity. The fabrication process of the thermoelectric material can be simplified, such that the cost and time required for fabrication of thermoelectric device can be reduced effectively.
Novelty: The synthetic thermoelectric material has phononic crystals (14,15) which are provided with a periodic array of scattering centers embedded in a host matrix. The scattering center material is made of silicon carbide, polysilicon or tungsten and provided with sufficiently different acoustic impedance from the host matrix material to create a phononic band-gap for reducing thermal conductivity. An n-type or p-type semiconductor is made of doped silicon carbide.
Filed: 6/9/2011
Application Number: US13156647A
Tech ID: SD 10663.1
This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention.
Data from Derwent World Patents Index, provided by Clarivate
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