Method of using thermoelectric device
AssigneesTsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
InventorsChui-Zhou Meng, Chang-Hong Liu, Shou-Shan Fan
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Abstract
A method using an apparatus includes the following steps. Providing a thermoelectric composite material, and establishing a sufficient temperature gradient in the thermoelectric composite material to create a voltage. The thermoelectric composite material includes a carbon nanotube structure comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes and a plurality of spaces defined by and between the carbon nanotubes, and an electrically conductive polymer layer coated on the carbon nanotube structure.
Claims9
A method of using a thermoelectric composite material by generating a current by establishing a temperature gradient in the thermoelectric composite material, the thermoelectric composite structure comprises a carbon nanotube structure made by the steps comprising:
- drawing at least one carbon nanotube film from a plurality of carbon nanotubes having a length and an end such that the plurality of carbon nanotubes are successive and oriented along a length direction of the plurality of carbon nanotubes and joined end-to-end by van der Waals attractive forces and such that a plurality of spaces are formed between the plurality of carbon nanotubes;
- coating an electrically conductive polymer layer on the carbon nanotube structure.
A method of using a thermoelectric device comprising:
- sandwiching a thermoelectric composite material between a first heat source element and a second heat source element;
- maintaining a temperature difference between the first heat source and the second heat source;
- and
- outputting a voltage via two electrodes;
- wherein the thermoelectric device is manufactured by a method comprising the steps of:
- making the thermoelectric composite material by forming an electrode on each of two opposite sides of the thermoelectric composite structure, wherein the thermoelectric composite material comprises a carbon nanotube structure made a method comprising the steps of:
- drawing at least one carbon nanotube film from a plurality of carbon nanotubes such that a plurality of spaces are formed between the plurality of carbon nanotubes, wherein the plurality of carbon nanotubes have a length and an end and such that the plurality of carbon nanotubes are successive and oriented along a length direction of the carbon nanotubes and joined end-to-end by van der Waals attractive force along the length direction of the plurality of carbon nanotube;
- and
- coating an electrically conductive polymer layer on the carbon nanotube structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.