Optically and thermally responsive nanohybrid materials

US9728703B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignees

• LOUISIANA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION · US
• The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System · US

Inventors

• Long Que · Rexford, US
• Wei Chen · Taipei, TW

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 11, 2014
• Grant date: Aug 8, 2017
• Expiry date: Mar 28, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H10N10/82

Abstract

Apparatus and methods of generating electricity include using an optically and thermally responsive material comprising single-walled Carbon nanotubes and Copper sulfide nanoparticles. This material acts as a thermoelectric generator lacking rectifying effects. In some forms, the generator may generate electricity from a light source alone, a heat source alone, or a source of both light and heat. Some forms exhibit enhanced optical and thermal switching characteristics, light absorption, photocurrent and thermocurrent generation under light illumination or/and thermal radiation, providing a new route to obtain thermoelectricity without any cooling or heat-sink component. Moreover, measurements showed thin films of SWNT CuS NPs had significantly increased light absorption (up to 80%) compared to untreated SWNT thin films.