US 12,707,893 B2 · Aerosol jet printing and sintering of thermoelectric devices

Abstract

Methods, ink compositions, and 3D conformal printed flexible films. The method may include aerosol jet printing a thermoelectric ink composition, followed by photonic or other sintering of the ink to remove surfactant included therein, and to convert the thermoelectric nanoparticles of the ink composition into a dense structure capable of charge carrier transport. The ink compositions may be solution-processed semimetal-chalcogenides (e.g., Te containing materials) in a suitable carrier (e.g., polyol(s), alcohol(s), etc.). A surfactant (e.g., PVP) may be present. Within seconds of photonic sintering, the electrical conductivity of the printed film is dramatically increased from non-conductive to a value on the order of at least 1×104 S/m. The films may demonstrate a room-temperature power factor of at least 500 μWm−1K−2. The realized values of 730-2200 μWm−1K−2 achieved are among the highest values reported for flexible thermoelectric films. The film is durable (e.g., 500 bending cycles with no significant performance drop).

Claims22

Dependent claims

An aerosol jet printable ink composition comprising:

a carrier including:
a first polyol, and
a second polyol, the second polyol being different from the first polyol;
thermoelectric nanoparticles, nanoplates, or nanorods dispersed in the carrier;
and
a surfactant for preventing or minimizing agglomeration of the nanoparticles, nanoplates, or nanorods wherein the first polyol and the second polyol are present at a weight ratio of from about 2:1 to about 10:1.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Aerosol jet printing and sintering of thermoelectric devices

Life of this patent

Aerosol jet printing and sintering of thermoelectric devices

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22