Title:
MONOLITHIC THIN-FILM THERMOELECTRIC DEVICE INCLUDING COMPLEMENTARY THERMOELECTRIC MATERIALS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO2005071765
Kind Code:
B1
Abstract:
A vertical, thin-film thermoelectric device (101) is described. In at least one embodiment of the present invention, phonon transport is separated from electron transport in a thermoelectric element of a thermoelectric device. A thermoelectric element may have a thickness less than a thermalization length associated with the thermoelectric material. In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a thermoelectric device includes an insulating film between a first electrode and a second electrode. In at least one embodiment of the present invention, phonon thermal conductivity between a thermoelectric element and an electrode in a thermoelectric device is reduced without a significant reduction in electron thermal conductivity, as compared to other thermoelectric devices. A phonon conduction impeding material may be included in regions coupling an electrode to an associated thermoelectric element. The invention is also contemplated to provide methods for forming and utilizing such structures.
Inventors:
GHOSHAL UTTAM (US)
SAMAVEDAM SRIKANTH (US)
NGAI TAT (US)
MINER ANDREW CARL (US)
SAMAVEDAM SRIKANTH (US)
NGAI TAT (US)
MINER ANDREW CARL (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2005/001023
Publication Date:
September 01, 2005
Filing Date:
January 12, 2005
Export Citation:
Assignee:
NANOCOOLERS INC (US)
GHOSHAL UTTAM (US)
SAMAVEDAM SRIKANTH (US)
NGAI TAT (US)
MINER ANDREW CARL (US)
GHOSHAL UTTAM (US)
SAMAVEDAM SRIKANTH (US)
NGAI TAT (US)
MINER ANDREW CARL (US)
International Classes:
H01L23/38; H01L35/02; H01L35/04; H01L35/12; H01L35/30; H01L35/34; H01L37/00; (IPC1-7): H01L35/02; H01L35/04
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