Actuators (artificial muscles) comprising twisted polymer fibers generate tensile actuation when powered thermally. In some embodiments, the thermally-powered polymer fiber tensile actuator can be incorporated into an article, such as a textile or garment.

The invention provides a piezoelectric electromagnetic combined energy harvester based on parallel mechanism. The harvester includes fixed bracket, three groups of motion branches and movable bracket. The movable bracket includes bottom platform, the bottom platform support frame and the bottom platform connector. The invention realizes multi-direction telescopic motion, and the magnetic flux of the coil is constantly changing, generating induced electromotive force. The vibration of piezoelectric beam causes the polarization of piezoelectric material and produces the output voltage. The invention uses parallel mechanism to introduce twelve piezoelectric beams, twelve permanent magnets and twenty-four coils in a small working space. The limited working space is fully utilized, and the combined working mode of piezoelectric energy collection technology and electromagnetic energy collection technology is adopted to make the overall power generation effect better, improve the power generation, and broaden the effective working bandwidth.

An actuator includes a laminate including an elastomer layer and an electrode, in which the laminate has a spiral or concentric shape, pre-distortion is applied to at least one member out of the elastomer layer and the electrode, and area distortion of the at least one member is 10% or larger.

A thermoelectric module includes a thermoelectric element disposed between a pair of electrodes, and an anchor layer disposed between the electrode and the thermoelectric element and connected with the thermoelectric element.

A thermoelectric conversion material has a composition represented by the chemical formula Li.sub.3-aBi.sub.1-bGe.sub.b, in which the range of values a and b is: 0≤a≤0.0003, and −a+0.0003≤b≤0.108; 0.0003≤a≤0.003, and 0≤b≤0.108; or 0.003≤a≤0.085, and 0≤b≤exp[−0.157×(ln(a)).sup.2−2.22×ln(a)−9.81], and in which the thermoelectric conversion material has a BiF.sub.3-type crystal structure and has a p-type polarity.

A thermoelectric conversion material has a composition represented by the chemical formula Li.sub.3-aBi.sub.1-bGe.sub.b, in which the range of values a and b is: 0≤a≤0.0003, and −a+0.0003≤b≤0.108; 0.0003≤a≤0.003, and 0≤b≤0.108; or 0.003≤a≤0.085, and 0≤b≤exp[−0.157×(ln(a)).sup.2−2.22×ln(a)−9.81], and in which the thermoelectric conversion material has a BiF.sub.3-type crystal structure and has a p-type polarity.

A thermoelectric conversion material is represented by a composition formula Ag.sub.2S.sub.(1-x)Se.sub.x, where x has a value of greater than 0.01 and smaller than 0.6.

[Problems] To provide a thermoelectric power generation system that has a relatively simple configuration, is not prone to failure, and is capable of efficiently generating power from temperature changes in the surrounding environment alone, even where there is no heat source.

[SOLUTION] A thermoelectric power generation device 13 is arranged between a heat storage body 11 having a phase-change material 11b and a heat exchange body 12 whose heat dissipation rate and/or heat absorption rate is greater than that of the heat storage body 11. The thermoelectric power generation device 13 is configured to generate electricity from the temperature difference between the heat storage body 11 and the heat exchange body 12. The thermoelectric power generation device 13 is plate-shaped, and one surface may be in contact with the heat storage body 11 and the other surface may be in contact with the heat exchange body 12.

A thermoelectric conversion material has a composition represented by the chemical formula Li.sub.3-aBi.sub.1-bSi.sub.b, in which the range of values a and b is: 0≤a≤0.0001, and −a+0.0003≤b≤0.023; 0.0001≤a<0.0003, and −a+0.0003≤b≤exp[−0.046×(ln(a)).sup.2−1.03×ln(a)−9.51]; or 0.0003≤a≤0.085, and 0<b≤exp[−0.046×(ln(a)).sup.2−1.03×ln(a)−9.51], and in which the thermoelectric conversion material has a BiF.sub.3-type crystal structure and has a p-type polarity.

Described herein are devices incorporating plasmon Casimir cavities, which modify the distribution of allowable plasmon modes within the cavities. The plasmon Casimir cavities can drive charge carriers from or to an electronic device adjoining the plasmon Casimir cavity by modifying the distribution of zero-point energy-driven plasmons on one side of the electronic device to be different from the distribution of zero-point energy-driven plasmons on the other side of the electronic device. The electronic device can exhibit a structure that permits transport or capture of carriers in very short time intervals, such as in 1 picosecond or less.