Thermoelectric and pyroelectric energy conversion devices
US7807917B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 26, 2007 |
| Grant date | Oct 5, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 27, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10N15/15
Abstract
New thermoelectric materials and devices are disclosed for application to high efficiency thermoelectric power generation. New functional materials based on oxides, rare-earth-oxides, rare-earth-nitrides, rare-earth phosphides, copper-rare-earth oxides, silicon-rare-earth-oxides, germanium-rare-earth-oxides and bismuth rare-earth-oxides are disclosed. Addition of nitrogen and phosphorus are disclosed to optimize the oxide material properties for thermoelectric conversion efficiency. New devices based on bulk and multilayer thermoelectric materials are described. New devices based on bulk and multilayer thermoelectric materials using combinations of at least one of thermoelectric and pyroelectric and ferroelectric materials are described. Thermoelectric devices based on vertical pillar and planar architectures are disclosed. The advantage of the planar thermoelectric effect allows utility for large area applications and is scalable for large scale power generation plants.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.