Microstructure for a Seebeck effect thermoelectric generator, and method for making such a microstructure

US8962970B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES · FR

Inventors

• Natalio Mingo Bisquert · Saint-Égrève, FR
• Tristan Caroff · Gières, FR
• Marc Plissonnier · Eybens, FR
• Vincent Remondiere · Grenoble, FR
• Shidong Wang · Plano, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 16, 2011
• Grant date: Feb 24, 2015
• Expiry date: Nov 16, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H10N10/01

Abstract

A method for making a thermoelectric microstructure includes: forming an insulating substrate; forming, on the substrate, a first assembly of conductor or semiconductor elements extending in parallel and in a first direction from first to second connection areas, and having a first Seebeck coefficient; forming, on the substrate, a second assembly of conductor or semiconductor elements electrically insulated from the first assembly and extending in parallel and in a second direction other than the first one, from the first to second connection areas, and having a second Seebeck coefficient other than the first one; providing, in the first and second connection areas, electric connection elements, each of which electrically connects at least one element of first and second assemblies; two conductor or semiconductor elements of a single assembly are separated in a predetermined direction by a predetermined average distance in the connection areas.