The present invention relates to a concrete composite comprising concrete and a thermoelectric material, wherein the thermoelectric material comprises a complex sulphide mineral, wherein the composite comprises at least 20 wt % concrete.

A battery module, a vehicle, and a method of manufacturing a battery module, the battery module including a housing accommodating a plurality of secondary batteries; and a thermoelectric element assembly on the housing and in contact with the plurality of secondary batteries through at least one contact opening in the housing, the thermoelectric element assembly being configured to heat or cool the plurality of secondary batteries.

A battery module, a vehicle, and a method of manufacturing a battery module, the battery module including a housing accommodating a plurality of secondary batteries; and a thermoelectric element assembly on the housing and in contact with the plurality of secondary batteries through at least one contact opening in the housing, the thermoelectric element assembly being configured to heat or cool the plurality of secondary batteries.

A system and method are disclosed for internally heated concentrated solar power (CSP) thermal absorbers. The system and method involve an energy-generating device having at least one heating unit. At least one heating unit preheats the energy-generating device in order to expedite the startup time of the energy-generating device, thereby allowing for an increase in efficiency for the production of energy. In some embodiments, the energy-generating device is a CSP thermal absorber. The CSP thermal absorber comprises a housing, a thermal barrier, a light-transparent reservoir containing a liquid alkali metal, at least one alkali metal thermal-to-electric converter (AMTEC) cell, an artery return channel, and at least one heating unit. Each heating unit comprises a heating device and a metal fin. The metal fin is submerged into the liquid alkali metal, thereby allowing the heating device to heat the liquid alkali metal via the fin.

An integrated flexible thermoelectric device includes p-type carbon nanoparticle regions and n-type carbon nanoparticle regions which are alternately and continuously connected to each other. In particular, the p-type carbon nanoparticle regions and the n-type carbon nanoparticle regions are formed on the one carbon nanoparticle paper.

An integrated flexible thermoelectric device includes p-type carbon nanoparticle regions and n-type carbon nanoparticle regions which are alternately and continuously connected to each other. In particular, the p-type carbon nanoparticle regions and the n-type carbon nanoparticle regions are formed on the one carbon nanoparticle paper.

The present invention provides a thermoelectric material excellent in heat resistance with less degradation of thermoelectric characteristics even in a high temperature environment. The thermoelectric material comprises a compound represented by a chemical formula Mg.sub.2Si.sub.1-xSn.sub.x (0<x<1) wherein at least one of the Si site and the Sn site of the compound is replaced with at least one of Sb and Bi, and an added Fe.

The present disclosure relates to a method of fabricating a thermoelectric device. The method includes disposing a metal layer on a dielectric layer to form a sub-assembly, forming patterned circuits on the metal layer, forming blind vias in the dielectric layer, fabricating first thermoelectric elements in a first series of blind vias, and fabricating second thermoelectric elements in a second series of blind vias to form thermoelectric units with the first thermoelectric elements and the patterned circuits. The sub-assembly is configured to be joined to an adjacent sub-assembly along a first direction, and the first and second thermoelectric elements of each thermoelectric unit are aligned in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The present disclosure further relates to a thermoelectric device which includes a plurality of thermoelectric units forming a strip extending in a first direction.

A thermoelectric module includes a first electrode, a first oxidation preventing layer, a plurality of first bonding layers containing silver (Ag), a second oxidation preventing layer, a first plating layer, a thermoelectric element, a second plating layer, a third oxidation preventing layer, a second bonding layer containing silver (Ag), a fourth oxidation preventing layer, and a second electrode.

A unique, environmentally-friendly micron scale autonomous electrical power source is provided for generating renewable energy, or a renewable energy supplement, in electronic systems, electronic devices and electronic system components. The autonomous electrical power source includes a first conductor with a facing surface conditioned to have a low work function, a second conductor with a facing surface having a comparatively higher work function, and a dielectric layer of not more than 200 Angstroms in thickness sandwiched between the respective facing surfaces of the first conductor and the second conductor. The autonomous electrical power source is configured to harvest minimal thermal energy from any source in an environment above absolute zero. An autonomous electrical power source component is also provided that includes a plurality of autonomous electrical power source constituent elements electrically connected to one another to increase a power output of the autonomous electrical power source.