The present invention provides apparatuses comprising a plurality of junctions providing a Seebeck effect, configured as alternating hot and cold junctions. The apparatus can be configured such that the cold junctions exhibit a different thermal behavior than the hot junctions in response to incident radiation. The junctions can be connected in series, such that the sum of the Seebeck effect from the plurality of junctions provides a sensitive, inherently calibrated indication of heating of the apparatus responsive to incident radiation, and therefore of the radiation itself.

A temperature sensor capable of taking contact method temperature measurements in extreme temperature environments includes a heterogenous ceramic fiber formed of two materials having different compositions, the heterogenous fiber including a junction between the first and second materials.

A microstructure device includes a heterogenous fiber formed of two materials having different compositions, the heterogenous fiber including a junction between the first and second materials. The first material is silicon carbide (SiC) and the second material is carbon (C). The junction may form an angle between the first and second materials.

A thermoelectric conversion material includes, a base material composed of SiGe, a first additive element functioning as a dopant, a second additive element different from the first additive element, and oxygen. The second additive element includes at least one of Mg, Ca, and Ti. A content ratio of the second additive element relative to the base material is 0.5 at % to 5 at %. In a rectangular area of a section of the base material, the rectangular area being selected such that a grain boundary intersects opposite sides of the rectangular area, a distribution of the second additive element and the oxygen has a positive correlation. A correlation coefficient of the correlation is in a range of 0.2 or more and less than 1.0.

An optical sensor includes a support film having a first main surface and a second main surface located opposite to the first main surface in a thickness direction; a thermoelectric-conversion material section disposed on the first main surface and including a plurality of strip-shaped first material layers formed of SiGe having p-type conductivity and configured to convert thermal energy into electric energy, and a plurality of strip-shaped second material layers formed of SiGe having n-type conductivity and configured to convert thermal energy into electric energy; a heat sink disposed on the second main surface; and a light absorbing film disposed so as to form a temperature difference in each of the first material layers in longitudinal directions and each of the second material layers in longitudinal directions and configured to convert received light into thermal energy.

A transmission electron microscope high-resolution in situ fluid freezing chip includes a lower chip and an upper chip. The lower chip is provided with a support layer, a freezing layer, an insulating layer, an opening, and a center window. The freezing layer is provided with contact electrodes, semiconductor films, and a conductive metal film. The center window is surrounded by the conductive metal film; the contact electrodes are disposed at an edge of the chip. One ends of the semiconductor films are lapped on the conductive metal film, and the other ends are lapped on the electrodes. In the outer edge of the conductive metal film, silicon is etched to form the opening. The support layer covers the opening. The conductive metal film is disposed on the support layer. A plurality of holes are provided in the center window.

Structures including an optical phase shifter and methods of forming a structure including an optical phase shifter. The structure comprises an optical phase shifter including a waveguide core having a first branch and a second branch laterally spaced from the first branch. The structure further comprises a thermoelectric device including a first plurality of pillars and a second plurality of pillars that alternate with the first plurality of pillars in a series circuit. The first plurality of pillars and the second plurality of pillars disposed adjacent to the first branch of the waveguide core, the first plurality of pillars comprises an n-type semiconductor material, and the second plurality of pillars comprises a p-type semiconductor material.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a thermoelectric device having a superconducting generator ring. In an illustrative example, a thermoelectric device may include a differential generator supply and a thermoelectric generator ring. The thermoelectric generator ring, for example, may be configured to generate an electric current based on a differential temperature received from the differential temperature supply. For example, the thermoelectric generator ring may include a number of thermoelectric coupons forming a ring on a horizontal plane. Each of the thermoelectric coupons may include an n-type impurity diffused silicon semiconductor (IDSS) and an p-type IDSS. For example, the impurities may be distributed in the IDSS at a predetermined concentration distribution, at which a forward bias voltage of the IDSS is below a predetermined target voltage (e.g., 20 mV) Various embodiments may advantageously generate a low-voltage loss high electric current based on an applied temperature differential at the thermoelectric coupons.

A thermionic energy converter, preferably including an anode and a cathode. An anode of a thermionic energy converter, preferably including an n-type semiconductor, one or more supplemental layers, and an electrical contact. A method for work function reduction and/or thermionic energy conversion, preferably including inputting thermal energy to a thermionic energy converter, illuminating an anode of the thermionic energy converter, thereby preferably reducing a work function of the anode, and extracting electrical power from the system.

An absorber for absorbing electromagnetic radiation including a first layer with hydrogenated carbon, and a second layer with carbon, and the first layer is less absorbing than the second layer.