Systems and methods discussed herein relate to Zintl-type thermoelectric materials, including a p-type thermoelectric material according to the formula AM.sub.yX.sub.y, and includes at least one of calcium (Ca), europium (Eu), ytterbium (Yb), and strontium (Sr), and has a ZT of the above about 0.60 above 675K. The n-type thermoelectric component includes magnesium (Mg), tellurium (Te), antimony (Sb), and bismuth (Bi) according to the formula Mg.sub.3.2Sb.sub.1.3Bi.sub.0.5-xTe.sub.x that has an average ZT above 0.8 from 400K to 800K. The p-type and n-type materials discussed herein may be used alone, in combination with other materials, or in combination with each other in various configurations.

Systems and methods discussed herein relate to Zintl-type thermoelectric materials, including a p-type thermoelectric material according to the formula AM.sub.yX.sub.y, and includes at least one of calcium (Ca), europium (Eu), ytterbium (Yb), and strontium (Sr), and has a ZT of the above about 0.60 above 675K. The n-type thermoelectric component includes magnesium (Mg), tellurium (Te), antimony (Sb), and bismuth (Bi) according to the formula Mg.sub.3.2Sb.sub.1.3Bi.sub.0.5-xTe.sub.x that has an average ZT above 0.8 from 400K to 800K. The p-type and n-type materials discussed herein may be used alone, in combination with other materials, or in combination with each other in various configurations.

A grain boundary diffusion method for a bulk rare earth permanent magnetic material includes the following steps: (1) fabricating an initial magnet by a sintering, hot pressing, or hot deformation process; (2) loading a grain boundary diffusion alloy source on a surface of the magnet through electrodeposition, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), physical vapor deposition (PVD), direct physical contact, or adhesive bonding; and (3) placing the initial magnet loaded with the grain boundary diffusion alloy source in a SPS device, and heating to obtain a final magnet. The current, plasma, and pressure in an SPS process can be controlled to significantly improve elemental diffusion coefficient and enhance the diffusion depth. The bulk rare earth permanent magnetic material undergoing grain boundary diffusion fabricated in the present disclosure has a significant increase in magnetic properties that catering to commercial demands for industrial production.

A grain boundary diffusion method for a bulk rare earth permanent magnetic material includes the following steps: (1) fabricating an initial magnet by a sintering, hot pressing, or hot deformation process; (2) loading a grain boundary diffusion alloy source on a surface of the magnet through electrodeposition, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), physical vapor deposition (PVD), direct physical contact, or adhesive bonding; and (3) placing the initial magnet loaded with the grain boundary diffusion alloy source in a SPS device, and heating to obtain a final magnet. The current, plasma, and pressure in an SPS process can be controlled to significantly improve elemental diffusion coefficient and enhance the diffusion depth. The bulk rare earth permanent magnetic material undergoing grain boundary diffusion fabricated in the present disclosure has a significant increase in magnetic properties that catering to commercial demands for industrial production.

A method for making an article is disclosed. The method involves inputting a digital model of an article into an additive manufacturing apparatus comprising an energy source. The additive manufacturing apparatus applies energy from the energy source to successively applied incremental quantities of a powder to fuse the powder to form the article corresponding to the digital model. The powder includes an aluminum alloy having 2.00-10.00 wt. % cerium, 0.50-2.50 wt. % titanium, 0-3.00 wt. % nickel, 0-0.75 wt. % nitrogen, 0-0.05 wt. % other alloying elements, and the balance of aluminum, based on the total weight of the aluminum alloy.

A method for making an article is disclosed. The method involves inputting a digital model of an article into an additive manufacturing apparatus comprising an energy source. The additive manufacturing apparatus applies energy from the energy source to successively applied incremental quantities of a powder to fuse the powder to form the article corresponding to the digital model. The powder includes an aluminum alloy having 2.00-10.00 wt. % cerium, 0.50-2.50 wt. % titanium, 0-3.00 wt. % nickel, 0-0.75 wt. % nitrogen, 0-0.05 wt. % other alloying elements, and the balance of aluminum, based on the total weight of the aluminum alloy.

Disclosed are conductive composites comprising a polymer, a conductor selected from metals and metal alloys, and a thickening agent.

Disclosed are conductive composites comprising a polymer, a conductor selected from metals and metal alloys, and a thickening agent.

This thermoelectric conversion module is formed by electrically connecting, by a conductive member, one end of an n-type thermoelectric conversion element having a negative Seebeck coefficient and having a half-Heusler structure to one end of a p-type thermoelectric conversion element containing an oxide having a positive Seebeck coefficient at a temperature of 25° C. or higher. The conductive member is connected to the n-type thermoelectric conversion element and the p-type thermoelectric conversion element through a connection layer containing a conductive metal comprising silver, and the connection layer is characterized by further containing an oxide to reduce the bond resistance between the n-type thermoelectric conversion element and/or the p-type thermoelectric conversion element.

Aspects of the disclosure include a multilayer surface-covering assembly adapted to convert solar radiation to heat. The multilayer surface-covering assembly may include a first composite layer comprising a first amorphous refractory material and first metal nanoparticles, wherein the first amorphous refractor material encapsulates the first metal nanoparticles, and wherein the first composite layer is thermally coupled with a surface of a structure for conduction of heat from the first composite layer to the structure. he multilayer surface-covering assembly may also include an antireflective layer, wherein the first composite layer is disposed between the antireflective layer and the surface of the structure.