Nanocomposites with high thermoelectric figures of merit
US7465871B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 29, 2004 |
| Grant date | Dec 16, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 29, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/2938
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention is generally directed to nanocomposite thermoelectric materials that exhibit enhanced thermoelectric properties. The nanocomposite materials include two or more components, with at least one of the components forming nano-sized structures within the composite material. The components are chosen such that thermal conductivity of the composite is decreased without substantially diminishing the composite's electrical conductivity. Suitable component materials exhibit similar electronic band structures. For example, a band-edge gap between at least one of a conduction band or a valence band of one component material and a corresponding band of the other component material at interfaces between the components can be less than about 5kBT, wherein kB is the Boltzman constant and T is an average temperature of said nanocomposite composition.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.