A thermoelectric material element includes: a thermoelectric material portion composed of a thermoelectric material that includes a first crystal phase and a second crystal phase during an operation, the second crystal phase being different from the first crystal phase; a first electrode disposed in contact with the thermoelectric material portion; and a second electrode disposed in contact with the thermoelectric material portion and disposed to be separated from the first electrode. During the operation, the thermoelectric material portion includes a first temperature region having a first temperature, and a second temperature region having a second temperature lower than the first temperature of the first temperature region. A ratio of the first crystal phase to the second crystal phase in the first temperature region is larger than a ratio of the first crystal phase to the second crystal phase in the second temperature region.

A semiconductor structure includes, an optical component and a thermal control mechanism. The optical component includes a first main path that splits into a first side path and a second side path so that the first side path and the second side path are separated from one another. The thermal control mechanism configured to control a temperature of both the first side path and the second side path, wherein the first thermal control mechanism includes a first thermoelectric member and a second thermoelectric member that are positioned between the first side path and the second side path and the first thermoelectric member and the second thermoelectric member have opposite conductive types.

A thermoelectric composition is provided that includes a nanocomposite comprising a copper selenide (Cu.sub.2Se) matrix having a plurality of nanoinclusions comprising copper metal selenide (CuMSe.sub.2) distributed therein. M may be selected from the group consisting of: indium (In), aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), antimony (Sb), bismuth (Bi), and combinations thereof. The thermoelectric composition has an average figure of merit (ZT) of greater than or equal to about 1.5 at a temperature of less than or equal to about 850K (about 577° C.). Methods of making such a thermoelectric nanocomposite material by a sequential solid-state transformation of a CuSe.sub.2 precursor are also provided.

The present invention relates to a thermoelectric measurement system based on a liquid eutectic gallium-indium electrode, whereby thermoelectric performance can be measured with excellent efficiency and high reproducibility even without construction of expensive equipment, various organic molecules as well as large-area molecular layers can be measured, and various thermoelectric materials, such as inorganic materials and inorganic-organic composite materials, can be measured. In addition, non-toxic liquid metal EGaIn is used as an upper electrode, so the damage to even a substance of measurement in the form of a nano-level thin film can be minimized, and the measurement of thermoelectric performance can be performed on even nano- to micro-level organic thermoelectric elements. Therefore, the thermoelectric measurement system is widely utilized across the thermoelectric element industry.

The present application relates to copper-doped double perovskites, for example, copper-doped double perovskites of the formula (I) and to uses thereof, for example as low-bandgap materials such as a semiconducting material in a device. The present application also relates to methods of tuning the bandgap of a Cs.sub.2SbAgZ.sub.6 double perovskite (for example, wherein Z is Cl) comprising doping the double perovskite with copper.
Cs.sub.2Sb.sub.1-aAg.sub.1-bCu.sub.2xZ.sub.6  (I)

Various brake pads with thermoelectric energy harvesters are disclosed. In some embodiments, the brake pad comprising a backplate, a pad of friction material, and a TEG module. The backplate can comprise a through-hole in which elements of the TEG module are positioned.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a thermoelectric conversion element having a film which not only maintains sufficient adhesion even when exposed to a high temperature but also exhibits excellent oxidation resistance and crack resistance. The problem is solved by a thermoelectric conversion element including a thermoelectric conversion component, in which the thermoelectric conversion component contains magnesium silicide and/or manganese silicide and is covered with a film containing Si and Zr.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a thermoelectric conversion element having a film which not only maintains sufficient adhesion even when exposed to a high temperature but also exhibits excellent oxidation resistance and crack resistance. The problem is solved by a thermoelectric conversion element including a thermoelectric conversion component, in which the thermoelectric conversion component contains magnesium silicide and/or manganese silicide and is covered with a film containing Si and Zr.

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.

Disclosed are an organic thermoelectric material and a thermoelectric generator including the same. More particularly, the thermoelectric generator includes an ionically conductive active layer containing a polyanion including an anionic group and a counter cation in a repeat unit thereof; a conductive polymer; and a polyvalent crosslinking agent as a single molecule including a plurality of acid functional groups. First and second electrodes are disposed to be connected to the ionically conductive active layer.