# US 12,010,916 B2 · Compliant three-dimensional thermoelectrics

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- Number: US 12,010,916 B2
- Document ID: US12010916B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/112,586
- Filed: 2020-12-04
- Published: 2021-06-10
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2019-12-04
- Assignees: Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education, on behalf of the University of Nevada
- Applicants: The Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education on Behalf of the University of Nevada
- Inventors: Jaeyun Moon; Matthew Pusko; Kaleab Ayalew; Suraj Venkat Pochampally; Hoyoung Ahn
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12010916B2

## CPC

- H10N 10/01: Manufacture or treatment
- H10N 10/17: characterised by the structure or configuration of the cell or thermocouple forming the device
- H10N 19/101: {Multiple thermocouples connected in a cascade arrangement}
- H10N: ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

The energy conversion performance, mechanical robustness, and cost associated with fabrication of a thermoelectric device may be improved by three-dimensional flexible thermoelectrics.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method, comprising:
depositing a plurality of thermocouples on a flexible substrate;
depositing a plurality of electrodes on the flexible substrate, wherein each thermocouple of the plurality of thermocouples contacts at least two electrodes of the plurality of electrodes, wherein each thermocouple of the plurality of thermocouples, based on the plurality of electrodes, is connected in series;
folding the flexible substrate in a three-dimensional pattern having a first crease extending parallel to a first direction and second crease extending parallel to a second direction different than the first direction causing, based on folding the flexible substrate, a distance between the plurality of thermocouples to be adjusted;
stacking the folded flexible substrate on another folded flexible substrate; and
attaching the folded flexible substrate stacked on the another folded flexible substrate to an oblique object, the folded flexible substrate preventing sheer stress concentration.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting, based on the three-dimensional pattern, a power density, wherein the power density is based on power generated by the plurality of thermocouples.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting, based on the three-dimensional pattern, a temperature gradient of the flexible substrate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate comprises one or more of paper or fabric.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of thermocouples comprise one or more of inorganic material or organic material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein depositing the plurality of thermocouples comprises physical vapor deposition (PVD) magnetron sputtering.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the oblique object produces heat.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising generating, based on the heat, power.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional pattern is based on one or more of an origami pattern, a kirigami pattern, an accordion pattern, or a fan pattern.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein stacking the folded flexible substrate on the another folded flexible substrate causes one or more of a change in a power density or a change in a temperature gradient.