Fabrication of nanowire array composites for thermoelectric power generators and microcoolers
AssigneePurdue Research Foundation
InventorsTimothy D. Sands, Kalapi G. Biswas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods for fabricating a nanowire array epoxy composite with high structural integrity and low effective thermal conductivity to achieve a power conversion efficiency goal of approximately 20% and power density of about 104 W/m2 with a maximum temperature below about 380° C. Further, a method includes fabricating a self-supporting thick 3-D interconnected nanowire array with high structural integrity and low effective thermal conductivity to achieve a power conversion efficiency goal of 20% and power density of about 104 W/m2 with a maximum temperature of about 700° C., the nanowire array having substantially only air between nanowires.
Claims43
A method for making a nanowire structure for use in a thermoelectric device, comprising:
- electrodepositing nanowires into a template creating a nanowire array, whereby the template provides structural support for the nanowire array;
- removing at least a part of the template from the nanowire array;
- and
- infiltrating a composite into the nanowire array, whereby the composite provides structural support for the nanowire array.
A nanowire structure for use in a thermoelectric device, comprising:
- a nanowire array supported by a composite template, wherein the nanowire structure has a conversion efficiency of about 20% and a power density of about 104 W/m2 with a maximum temperature below about 380° C.
A method for making a branched porous anodic alumina template for use in a thermoelectric device, comprising:
- cleaning an aluminum foil in a cleaning solution;
- electropolishing the cleaned aluminum foil;
- and
- anodic oxidizing the electropolished aluminum foil, whereby a branched porous anodic alumina template is grown having a plurality of vertical pores and a plurality of branched pores, wherein the growth rate of the branched porous anodic alumina template is at about 300 μm/hour.
A nanowire structure for use in a thermoelectric device, comprising:
- a self-supporting nanowire array electrodeposited into a sacrificial branched porous anodic alumina template.
A nanowire structure for use in a thermoelectric device, comprising:
- a compositionally modulated nanowire array.
A method for making a compositionally modulate nanowire structure, comprising:
- growing a multilayered nanowire array by electrodepositing a first and a second material into a template, whereby the template provides structural support for the nanowire array.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.