# US 2020/0403135 A1 · Thermal lensing electrode in thermoelectric generators for improved performance

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- Number: US 2020/0403135 A1
- Document ID: US20200403135A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/969,524
- Filed: 2019-11-16
- Published: 2020-12-24
- Earliest claimed: 2018-11-16
- Assignees: Berken Energy LLC
- Applicants: Berken Energy LLC
- Inventors: Ronald Petkie; John B. Newman; Ion M. Basa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200403135A1

## CPC

- C23C 28/02: only coatings {only including layers} of metallic material
- H10N 10/17: characterised by the structure or configuration of the cell or thermocouple forming the device
- C25D 3/12: of nickel or cobalt
- C25D 7/123: {Semiconductors first coated with a seed layer or a conductive layer}
- H10N 10/01: Manufacture or treatment
- H10N 10/817: the junction being non-separable, e.g. being cemented, sintered or soldered
- H10N 10/82: Interconnections
- C23C 18/165: {Multilayered product (layered product B32B)}
- C25D 5/10: Electroplating with more than one layer of the same or of different metals (for bearings C25D7/10)
- C25D 7/12: Semiconductors
- C23C: COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL (making metal-coated products by extrusion B21C23/22; covering with metal by connecting pre-existing layers to articles, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D39/00, B23K; metallising of glass C03C; metallising mortars, concrete, artificial stone, ceramics or natural stone C04B41/00; enamelling of, or applying a vitreous layer to, metals C23D; treating metal surfaces or coating of metals by electrolysis or electrophoresis C25D; single-crystal film growth C30B; by metallising textiles D06M11/83; decorating textiles by locally metallising D06Q1/04)
- H10N: ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C25D: PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR

## Abstract

Exemplary thermoelectric devices and methods are disclosed herein. Thermoelectric generator performance is increased by the shaping isothermal fields within the bulk of a thermoelectric pellet, resulting in an increase in power output of a thermoelectric generator module. In one embodiment, a thermoelectric device includes a pellet comprising a semiconductor material, a first metal layer surrounding a first portion of the pellet, and a second metal layer surrounding a second portion of the pellet. The first and second metal layers are configured proximate to one another about a perimeter of the pellet. The pellet is exposed at the perimeter. And the perimeter is configured at a sidewall height about the pellet to provide a non-linear effect on a power output of the thermoelectric device by modifying an isotherm surface curvature within the pellet. The device also includes a metal container thermally and electrically bonded to the pellet.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A thermoelectric device, comprising:
a pellet comprising a semiconductor material;
a first metal layer surrounding a first portion of the pellet;
a second metal layer surrounding a second portion of the pellet, wherein the first and second metal layers are configured proximate to one another about a perimeter of the pellet, wherein the pellet is exposed at the perimeter, and wherein the perimeter is configured at a sidewall height about the pellet to provide a non-linear effect on a power output of the thermoelectric device by modifying an isotherm surface curvature within the pellet; and
a metal container thermally and electrically bonded to the pellet.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The thermoelectric device of claim 1, wherein:
the isotherm surface curvature within the pellet is operable to increase an effective surface area of a thermoelectric effect within a volume of the pellet via heat injection through the sidewalls.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The thermoelectric device of claim 1, wherein:
the first and second metal layers comprise a higher thermal conductivity than the pellet.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The thermoelectric device of claim 3, wherein:
at least one of the first and the second metal layers comprises copper.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The thermoelectric device of claim 1, wherein:
at least the pellet and the second metal layer are configured in a shape that is operable to increase a thermal lensing effect of the thermoelectric device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The thermoelectric device of claim 5, wherein:
the shape is a cuboid.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The thermoelectric device of claim 5, wherein:
the shape is a cylinder.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The thermoelectric device of claim 1, wherein:
the first and the second metal layers are electrically isolated from one another.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The thermoelectric device of claim 1, wherein:
the first metal film and the pellet comprise beveled edges proximate to the perimeter of the pellet to electrically isolate the first and the second metal layers from one another.

### Claim 10

(canceled)