Methods for determining desired doping conditions for a semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotube (s-SWCNT) are provided. One exemplary method includes doping each of a plurality of s-SWCNT networks under a respective set of doping conditions; determining a thermoelectric (TE) power factor as a function of a fractional bleach of an absorption spectrum for the plurality of s-SWCNT networks doped under the respective sets of doping conditions; and using the function to identify one of the TE power factors within a range of the fractional bleach of the absorption spectrum. The identified TE power factor corresponds to the desired doping conditions.

Methods for determining desired doping conditions for a semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotube (s-SWCNT) are provided. One exemplary method includes doping each of a plurality of s-SWCNT networks under a respective set of doping conditions; determining a thermoelectric (TE) power factor as a function of a fractional bleach of an absorption spectrum for the plurality of s-SWCNT networks doped under the respective sets of doping conditions; and using the function to identify one of the TE power factors within a range of the fractional bleach of the absorption spectrum. The identified TE power factor corresponds to the desired doping conditions.

A thermoelectric conversion module includes an electrically insulating sheet substrate having a front surface and a rear surface, a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements, and a wiring layer. The plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements have an elongated shape extending in a first direction and are arranged such as to be lined up along a second direction intersecting the first direction at the front surface of the sheet substrate. The wiring layer includes a plurality of wires that electrically connect adjacent thermoelectric conversion elements in series at both lengthwise ends. The plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements are all p-type thermoelectric conversion elements or are all n-type thermoelectric conversion elements. A thermal resistance value of the wires is not less than a thermal resistance value of the thermoelectric conversion elements.

A thermoelectric conversion module includes an electrically insulating sheet substrate having a front surface and a rear surface, a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements, and a wiring layer. The plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements have an elongated shape extending in a first direction and are arranged such as to be lined up along a second direction intersecting the first direction at the front surface of the sheet substrate. The wiring layer includes a plurality of wires that electrically connect adjacent thermoelectric conversion elements in series at both lengthwise ends. The plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements are all p-type thermoelectric conversion elements or are all n-type thermoelectric conversion elements. A thermal resistance value of the wires is not less than a thermal resistance value of the thermoelectric conversion elements.

Provided is a thermoelectric material which exhibits excellent thermoelectric characteristics at room temperature; a method for producing this thermoelectric material; and a thermoelectric power generation element using this thermoelectric material. In an embodiment of the present invention, a thermoelectric material contains an inorganic compound that contains magnesium (Mg), antimony (Sb) and/or bismuth (Bi), copper (Cu), and if necessary M (M is composed of at least one element that is selected from the group consisting of selenium (Se) and tellurium (Te)); and inorganic compound is represented by MgaSb.sub.2-b-cBi.sub.bM.sub.cCu.sub.d, wherein a, b, c and d satisfy 3≤a 3.5, 0≤b≤2, 0≤c≤0.06, 0≤d≤0.1, and (b+1)≤2.

Disclosed herein are doped thermoelectric ceramic oxide compositions comprising a calcium cobaltite ceramic. The doped thermoelectric ceramic oxide compositions can have a formula Ca.sub.3-xM.sup.2.sub.xCo.sub.4O.sub.9M.sup.1.sub.y, where M.sup.1 represents a first metal dopant, M.sup.2 represents a second metal dopant, x is a number having a value of from about 0.00 to about 3.00, and y is a number having a value of from about 0.01 to about 0.50. The doped thermoelectric ceramic oxide compositions have an increased energy conversion efficiency as compared to an undoped or conventional thermoelectric ceramic oxide materials. Also disclosed are methods for making the doped thermoelectric ceramic oxide compositions. Products and devices are disclosed comprising the thermoelectric ceramic oxide compositions, e.g., solid-state conversion devices that can utilize heat to generate electricity. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Disclosed herein are doped thermoelectric ceramic oxide compositions comprising a calcium cobaltite ceramic. The doped thermoelectric ceramic oxide compositions can have a formula Ca.sub.3-xM.sup.2.sub.xCo.sub.4O.sub.9M.sup.1.sub.y, where M.sup.1 represents a first metal dopant, M.sup.2 represents a second metal dopant, x is a number having a value of from about 0.00 to about 3.00, and y is a number having a value of from about 0.01 to about 0.50. The doped thermoelectric ceramic oxide compositions have an increased energy conversion efficiency as compared to an undoped or conventional thermoelectric ceramic oxide materials. Also disclosed are methods for making the doped thermoelectric ceramic oxide compositions. Products and devices are disclosed comprising the thermoelectric ceramic oxide compositions, e.g., solid-state conversion devices that can utilize heat to generate electricity. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

According to one embodiment, a power generation element, includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and a crystal member. A direction from the second conductive layer toward the first conductive layer is along a first direction. The crystal member is provided between the first conductive layer and the second conductive member. The crystal member includes a crystal pair. The crystal pair includes a first crystal part and a second crystal part. A second direction from the first crystal part toward the second crystal part crosses the first direction. A gap is provided between the first crystal part and the second crystal part. The first conductive layer is electrically connected to the first crystal part. The second conductive layer is electrically connected to the second crystal part.

According to one embodiment, a power generation element, includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and a crystal member. A direction from the second conductive layer toward the first conductive layer is along a first direction. The crystal member is provided between the first conductive layer and the second conductive member. The crystal member includes a crystal pair. The crystal pair includes a first crystal part and a second crystal part. A second direction from the first crystal part toward the second crystal part crosses the first direction. A gap is provided between the first crystal part and the second crystal part. The first conductive layer is electrically connected to the first crystal part. The second conductive layer is electrically connected to the second crystal part.

The present disclosure is related to thermoelectric panels and their use in cooling and heating systems. The cooling/heating systems may include a cylindrical plurality of thermoelectric panels. The panels may include thermoelectric devices embedded between a housing formed by heat conductive layers and edge structures for preserve a low thermal conductivity volume.