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US 2008/0173537 A1Published application
Thermoelectric devices and applications for the same
AssigneeBattelle Memorial Institute
InventorsJohn G. DeSteese, Larry C. Olsen, Peter M. Martin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
High performance thin film thermoelectric couples and methods of making the same are disclosed. Such couples allow fabrication of at least microwatt to watt-level power supply devices operating at voltages greater than one volt even when activated by only small temperature differences.
Claims23
A method of making a thermoelectric power source comprising:
- (a) providing a flexible substrate having an upper surface
- (b) forming a thermocouple by
- (i) sputter depositing a thin film of p-type material comprising Ge, Ag, Sb, and Te to form at least one thermoelement on the upper surface of the flexible substrate and
- (ii) sputter depositing a thin film of an n-type material to form at least one thermoelement positioned on the upper surface of the flexible substrate adjacent the p-type thermoelement;
- and
- (iii) forming an electrically conductive member thereby electrically connecting the first end of the p-type thermoelement in electrical contact with the second end of the n-type thermoelement.
3 more elements
A method of forming a thermoelectric power source comprising:
- forming at least about 500 thermocouples and electrically connecting the thermocouples to one another on an upper surface of a flexible substrate, the forming of the thermocouples comprising:
- sputter depositing thin films of GAST p-type material forming p-type thermoelements;
- sputter depositing thin films of n-type material forming n-type thermoelements alternatingly positioned adjacent the p-type thermoelements;
- and
- forming the thermoelectric power source such that it occupies a volume of less than about 10 cm3 and has a power output of at least about 50 μW.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.