Reduced oxides having large thermoelectric ZT values

US9444026B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• CORNING INCORPORATED · US

Inventors

• Monika Backhaus-Ricoult · Horseheads, US
• Lisa Anne Moore · Corning, US
• Charlene Marie Smith · Corning, US
• Todd Parrish St Clair · Riverside, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 14, 2014
• Grant date: Sep 13, 2016
• Expiry date: May 30, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C04B2235/9607
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Doped and partially-reduced oxide (e.g., SrTiO3-based) thermoelectric materials. The thermoelectric materials can be single-doped or multi-doped (e.g., co-doped) and display a thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of 0.2 or higher at 1050 K. Methods of forming the thermoelectric materials involve combining and reacting suitable raw materials and heating them in a graphite environment to at least partially reduce the resulting oxide. Optionally, a reducing agent such as lanthanum boride, titanium carbide, titanium nitride, or titanium boride can be incorporated into the starting materials prior to the reducing step in graphite. The reaction product can be sintered to form a dense thermoelectric material.