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 disclosure relates to an integrated dual-sided all-in-one energy system including a plurality of vertically stacked dual-sided all-in-one energy apparatuses, each including an energy-harvesting device and an energy-storage device disposed on both sides of a substrate, and according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an integrated dual-sided all-in-one energy system may include a plurality of dual-sided all-in-one energy apparatuses, each including an energy-harvesting device that is formed as an electrode pattern on one side of a substrate and generates electrical energy by harvesting energy based on a temperature difference between a first side and a second side and an energy-storage device that is formed on the other side of the substrate and is selectively connected to the energy-harvesting device based on the electrode pattern to store the generated electrical energy.

The present disclosure relates to an integrated dual-sided all-in-one energy system including a plurality of vertically stacked dual-sided all-in-one energy apparatuses, each including an energy-harvesting device and an energy-storage device disposed on both sides of a substrate, and according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an integrated dual-sided all-in-one energy system may include a plurality of dual-sided all-in-one energy apparatuses, each including an energy-harvesting device that is formed as an electrode pattern on one side of a substrate and generates electrical energy by harvesting energy based on a temperature difference between a first side and a second side and an energy-storage device that is formed on the other side of the substrate and is selectively connected to the energy-harvesting device based on the electrode pattern to store the generated electrical energy.

A thermoelectric element according to one example of the present invention comprises: a first substrate; a first insulating layer disposed on the first substrate; a first bonding layer disposed on the first insulating layer; a second insulating layer disposed on the first bonding layer; a first electrode disposed on the second insulating layer; a P-type thermoelectric leg and N-type thermoelectric leg, disposed on the first electrode; a second electrode disposed on the P-type thermoelectric leg and N-type thermoelectric leg; a third insulating layer disposed on the second electrode; and a second substrate disposed on the third insulating layer, wherein the first insulating layer is composed of a composite comprising silicon and aluminum, the second insulating layer is a resin layer composed of a resin composition comprising an inorganic filler and at least one of an epoxy resin and a silicone resin, and the first bonding layer comprises a silane coupling agent.

A thermoelectric conversion material has a La.sub.2O.sub.3-type crystal structure and is of n-type. The thermoelectric conversion material has a composition represented by Mg.sub.3+m-a-bA.sub.aB.sub.bD.sub.2-e-fE.sub.eF.sub.f. D is at least one of Sb or Bi. E is at least one of P or As. m is a value of greater than or equal to −0.1 and less than or equal to 0.4. e is a value of greater than or equal to 0.001 and less than or equal to 0.25. A is at least one of Y, Sc, La, or Ce. F is at least one of Se or Te. a and f are values that satisfy a condition of 0.0001≤a+f≤0.06. B is at least one of Mn or Zn. b is a value of greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 0.25.

A thermoelectric conversion material has a La.sub.2O.sub.3-type crystal structure and is of n-type. The thermoelectric conversion material has a composition represented by Mg.sub.3+m-a-bA.sub.aB.sub.bD.sub.2-e-fE.sub.eF.sub.f. D is at least one of Sb or Bi. E is at least one of P or As. m is a value of greater than or equal to −0.1 and less than or equal to 0.4. e is a value of greater than or equal to 0.001 and less than or equal to 0.25. A is at least one of Y, Sc, La, or Ce. F is at least one of Se or Te. a and f are values that satisfy a condition of 0.0001≤a+f≤0.06. B is at least one of Mn or Zn. b is a value of greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 0.25.

A thermoelectric material of the present invention includes copper, tin, and sulfur, wherein a ratio A/B of the number A of copper atoms to the number B of tin atoms is 0.5 to 2.5 and a content of a metal element other than copper and tin is 5 mol % or less with respect to total metal elements. Additionally, the thermoelectric material of the present invention has a thermal conductivity less than 1.0 W/(m.Math.K) at 200 to 400° C.

Composite nanoparticle compositions and associated nanoparticle assemblies are described herein which, in some embodiments, exhibit enhancements to one or more thermoelectric properties including increases in electrical conductivity and/or Seebeck coefficient and/or decreases in thermal conductivity. In one aspect, a composite nanoparticle composition comprises a semiconductor nanoparticle including a front face and a back face and sidewalls extending between the front and back faces. Metallic nanoparticles are bonded to at least one of the sidewalls establishing a metal-semiconductor junction.

A system includes a high-power laser surface unit capable of generating a high-power laser beam having an output power of at least 10 kW, an optical fiber connected to the high-power laser surface unit, and at least one harvesting cell disposed around the optical fiber. The optical fiber includes an optical cladding surrounding an optical fiber core. Each harvesting cell includes an anode, a cathode, and a thermoelectric layer disposed adjacent to and electrically connected to the anode and the cathode, where the thermoelectric layer includes a polymer-based thermoelectric material.

A system includes a high-power laser surface unit capable of generating a high-power laser beam having an output power of at least 10 kW, an optical fiber connected to the high-power laser surface unit, and at least one harvesting cell disposed around the optical fiber. The optical fiber includes an optical cladding surrounding an optical fiber core. Each harvesting cell includes an anode, a cathode, and a thermoelectric layer disposed adjacent to and electrically connected to the anode and the cathode, where the thermoelectric layer includes a polymer-based thermoelectric material.