Patent · US Active

Integrated thermoelectric devices on insulating media

US11856857B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
1References
15Claims
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Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 19, 2020
Grant dateDec 26, 2023
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 19, 2040

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10N10/853

Abstract

The disclosure is related to structures and method of making thermoelectric devices. The structures include an electrically and thermally nonconductive substrate with cylindrical or frustum-shaped tunnels. The tunnels may be filled with thermally and electrically conductive materials that resist diffusion. The structures include n-type and p-type materials, in homogeneous form or alternating with interlayers to block phonon conduction between layers of thermoelectric materials. The tunnels are individually associated with either n-type or p-type thermoelectric materials and connected in pairs to form alternating conductors on both sides of the substrate. The structures may also be coated with layers of gold and nickel and have thermoelectric materials deposited in the tunnels. The tunnels may be partially or fully capped with sintered nano-silver or solder. Notches may alternate sides to electrically isolate each side of the structure to provide current flow between the p-type and n-type thermoelectric layers.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.