# US 11,114,601 B2 · Thermoelectric material

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- Number: US 11,114,601 B2
- Document ID: US11114601B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/329,022
- Filed: 2017-08-28
- Published: 2019-07-04
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2016-08-31
- Assignees: Technische Universität Darmstadt
- Applicants: Technische UniversitäT Darmstadt
- Inventors: Barbara Albert; Dennis Henge
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11114601B2

## CPC

- H10N 10/851: comprising inorganic compositions
- C01B 25/088: {containing plural metal}
- H10N 10/854: comprising only metals (H10N10/852, H10N10/853 take precedence)
- C01P 2002/54: one element only
- C01P 2002/88: by thermal analysis data, e.g. TGA, DTA, DSC
- C01P 2006/32: Thermal properties
- C01P 2006/40: Electric properties
- H10N: ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}
- C01P: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO STRUCTURAL AND PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF SOLID INORGANIC COMPOUNDS

## Abstract

Novel compounds with thermoelectric properties are presented. The novel compounds belong to the group of phosphides. They are characterized by excellent thermoelectric properties, in particularly in the temperature range of 400° C. to 700° C. Also a production method for the production of the compounds is presented, with which the thermoelectric substances can be prepared with high yield and quality.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A thermoelectric material with the formula R1-xMnxCuP, wherein x is at least 0.01 and at most 0.99 and R is selected from Mg, Ca, Ba, Sr and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The material according to claim 1, wherein x is not higher than 0.5.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The material according to claim 1, wherein x is at least 0.02.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The material according to claim 1, wherein R=Mg.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A method for the production of the material according to claim 1, comprising the following steps:
providing the elements R, manganese, copper and phosphorus in a reaction vessel,
evacuating the reaction vessel,
heating the reaction vessel to a temperature of higher than 700° C.,
removal of the reaction product.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method according to claim 5, with the further step of comminuting the reaction product, subsequent to the removal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method according to claim 5, wherein the reaction vessel is not heated to above 1000° C.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The method according to claim 5, wherein the reaction vessel is maintained at a temperature of higher than 700° C. for a period of time of at least 50 hours and at most 100 hours.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The method according to claim 5, with the further step of compacting the reaction product to a molded article, subsequently to the removal.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A use of a material according to claim 1 as thermoelectric substance.

### Claim 11 (depends on 2)

The material according to claim 2, wherein x is not higher than 0.3.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The material according to claim 11, wherein x is not higher than 0.2.

### Claim 13 (depends on 3)

The material according to claim 3, wherein x is at least 0.03.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The material according to claim 13, wherein x is at least 0.08.

### Claim 15 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, wherein the reaction vessel is not heated to above 850° C.

### Claim 16 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, wherein the comminuting is by grinding.