Composite thermoelectric material and methods for making

A device, comprising:

• a thermoelectric element comprising a thermoelectric material, the material comprising
• a matrix comprising a thermoelectric material;
• and
• an electrically conducting phase disposed within the matrix, the electrically conducting phase having a lower electrical resistivity than the thermoelectric material, wherein the electrically conducting phase forms a continuous electrically conducting path through the matrix from a first surface of the material to a second surface of the material.

A thermoelectric system, comprising:

• a heat source;
• a heat sink;
• and
• a thermoelectric device disposed in thermal communication with the heat source and the heat sink, wherein the thermoelectric device comprises a thermoelectric element comprising
• a matrix comprising a thermoelectric material;
• and
• an electrically conducting phase disposed within the matrix, the electrically conducting phase having a lower electrical resistivity than the thermoelectric material, wherein the electrically conducting phase forms a continuous electrically conducting path through the matrix from a first surface of the material to a second surface of the material.

A thermoelectric composition comprising:

• a thermoelectric matrix phase and an electrically conducting phase disposed within the matrix, the electrically conducting phase having a lower electrical resistivity than the thermoelectric material;
• wherein the thermoelectric composition has the following properties:
• a. a magnetoresistance property whereby the electrical resistance of the material is proportional to the magnetic field strength raised to an exponential power, the exponential power being less than 2;
• and
• b. an enhancement that is one of the following:
• (1) a thermopower enhancement, wherein the Seebeck coefficient of the composition at a given carrier concentration is greater than the Seebeck coefficient of the thermoelectric matrix phase, or (2) a carrier concentration enhancement, where the carrier concentration of the composition at a given Seebeck coefficient greater than the carrier concentration of the thermoelectric matrix phase.