A composite including: at least one selected from a silicon oxide of the formula SiO.sub.2 and a silicon oxide of the formula SiO.sub.x wherein 0<x<2; and graphene, wherein the silicon oxide is disposed in a graphene matrix.

A composite including: at least one selected from a silicon oxide of the formula SiO.sub.2 and a silicon oxide of the formula SiO.sub.x wherein 0<x<2; and graphene, wherein the silicon oxide is disposed in a graphene matrix.

A composite including: at least one selected from a silicon oxide of the formula SiO.sub.2 and a silicon oxide of the formula SiO.sub.x wherein 0<x<2; and graphene, wherein the silicon oxide is disposed in a graphene matrix.

Provided is a thermoelectric material having an intermetallic compound in an AlFeSi system as a main component, exhibiting a thermoelectric effect in a temperature range from a room temperature to 600 C., and becoming a p-type or n-type thermoelectric material by a composition control, a manufacturing method thereof, and a thermoelectric power generation module thereof. A thermoelectric material according to the present invention including at least Al, Fe, and Si and represented by a general formula of Al.sub.22+pqFe.sub.38.5+3qSi.sub.49.5p2q (where p satisfies 0p16.5 and q satisfies 0.34q0.34) and including a phase represented by Al.sub.2Fe.sub.3Si.sub.3 as a main phase.

A thermoelectric device (20) and a method for manufacturing and using the same are disclosed. The thermoelectric device (20) includes a hot shoe (24) and a cold shoe (28) disposed about the hot shoe. A heat conducting member (32) formed of a thermoelectric material extends between the hot shoe (24) and the cold shoe (28) and generates electricity in response to a temperature difference therebetween. The hot shoe (24) is heated and expands at a greater rate than the cold shoe (28) does during operation. The structural and spatial relationship of the hot shoe (24) and the cold shoe (28) maintains the thermoelectric material of the heat conducting member (32) in compression during operation of the thermoelectric device (20).

A method for producing a thermoelectric object for a thermoelectric conversion device is provided. A starting material which has elements in the ratio of a half-Heusler alloy is melted and then cooled to form at least one ingot. The ingot is homogenized at a temperature of 1000 C. to 1400 C. for a period of time t, wherein 0.5 ht<12 h or 24 h<t<100 h. The homogenized ingot is crushed and ground into a powder. The powder is cold-pressed and sintered at a maximum pressure of 1 MPa for 0.5 to 24 h at a temperature of 1000 C. to 1500 C.

Disclosed are methods for the manufacture of n-type and p-type filled skutterudite thermoelectric legs of an electrical contact. A first material of CoSi.sub.2 and a dopant are ball-milled to form a first powder which is thermo-mechanically processed with a second powder of n-type skutterudite to form a n-type skutterudite layer disposed between a first layer and a third layer of the doped-CoSi.sub.2. In addition, a plurality of components such as iron, and nickel, and at least one of cobalt or chromium are ball-milled form a first powder that is thermo-mechanically processed with a p-type skutterudite layer to form a p-type skutterudite layer second layer disposed between a first and a third layer of the first powder. The specific contact resistance between the first layer and the skutterudite layer for both the n-type and the p-type skutterudites subsequent to hot-pressing is less than about 10.0 .Math.cm.sup.2.

An electric generator device is provided that includes a thermoelectric array, a base plate, and an electric power output. The thermoelectric array may include a hot side portion and a cold side portion. The base plate may be configured to receive heat from a heat source to be transferred to the hot side portion of the thermoelectric array. The electric power output may be electrically coupled to the thermoelectric array. The thermoelectric array may be configured to convert a temperature differential into an electric voltage for output to the electric power output. The power generation housing may be configured to hold a heat rejection substance that absorbs heat from the cold side portion of the thermoelectric array to facilitate generation of the temperature differential between the hot side portion and the cold side portion of the thermoelectric array.

A heat-flux sensor includes first and second pieces made of different materials and arranged to constitute a contact junction for generating electromotive force in response to a temperature difference between the first and second pieces. The heat-flux sensor includes a first electric conductor connected to the first piece and a second electric conductor connected to the second piece so that the electromotive force is detectable from between ends of the first and second electric conductors. The mass and the heat capacity of the second piece are significantly greater than those of the first piece so that a heat-flux across the contact junction causes a temperature difference between the first and second pieces but no significant temperature change in the second piece. Thus, the electromotive force caused by the temperature difference is indicative of the heat-flux.

Materials and systems and methods of manufacture thereof that function as thermoelectric materials both in and near a cryogenic temperature range. In particular, the synthesis of heavy fermion materials that exhibit higher ZTs than previously achieved at cryogenic and near-cryogenic temperatures.