A thermoelectric conversion material includes Mg.sub.2Si.sub.xSn.sub.1−x (where 0.3≤X≤1) and a boride containing one or two or more metals selected from titanium, zirconium, and hafnium. Further, it is preferable that the boride is one or two or more selected from TiB.sub.2, ZrB.sub.2, and HfB.sub.2.

A sensing system including in-ground sensors not requiring battery power. A thermoelectric generator sensor rod includes an upper thermal contact and a lower thermal contact at or near its two ends. When the thermoelectric generator sensor rod is buried in the ground with one end buried more deeply than the other, a temperature gradient in the soil produces a temperature difference between the upper thermal contact and the lower thermal contact. The upper thermal contact and the lower thermal contact are thermally connected to a thermoelectric generator, e.g., by heat pipes or thermally conductive rods. Electrical power generated by the thermoelectric generator powers sensors for monitoring conditions in the ground, and circuitry for transmitting sensor data to a central data processing system.

A thermoelectric module includes a substrate; a thermoelectric element; a bonding portion including an electrode that bonds the substrate and the thermoelectric element; an organic material film that covers a front surface of the bonding portion; and an inorganic material film that covers the organic material film.

A battery module, a vehicle, and a method of manufacturing a battery module, the battery module including a housing accommodating a plurality of secondary batteries; and a thermoelectric element assembly on the housing and in contact with the plurality of secondary batteries through at least one contact opening in the housing, the thermoelectric element assembly being configured to heat or cool the plurality of secondary batteries.

A battery module, a vehicle, and a method of manufacturing a battery module, the battery module including a housing accommodating a plurality of secondary batteries; and a thermoelectric element assembly on the housing and in contact with the plurality of secondary batteries through at least one contact opening in the housing, the thermoelectric element assembly being configured to heat or cool the plurality of secondary batteries.

An ambient heat energy converter includes a first positive evaporating electrode which functions as the cathode, a membrane separator, a porous barrier membrane, and a second, negative condensing electrode which functions as the anode. Electrodes and are porous and facilitate hydrogen-oxygen reactions that electrolyze and reduce water respectively. Porous barrier membrane allows water and protons to pass through but prevents hygroscopic acid or base ions in condensing electrode from passing through, only water and protons can pass. During operation, membrane separator's high affinity for liquid water maintains a tension that pulls liquid water through porous barrier membrane from condensing electrode. Barrier membrane does not allow ions other than water that comprise the hygroscopic material in condensing electrode to pass through. Conversely, the hygroscopic nature of condensing electrode maintains water tension in the opposite direction. A housing surrounds the electrodes and creates a free flowing path.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided for scalable manufacturing of thermoelectric device modules for multiple uses on a single substrate. An example method can include disposing thermoelectric structures on a substrate, the substrate having a first substrate material, and the thermoelectric structures having a thermoelectric material disposed on a second substrate material. The example method can further include removing the second substrate material from each of the thermoelectric structures. The example method can further include forming electrical contacts on a top surface of each respective one of the thermoelectric structures. The example method can further include forming top headers over subsets of the electrical contacts. The example method can further include forming thermoelectric device modules, each of the thermoelectric device modules having at least a pair of the thermoelectric structures and at least one of the top headers.

A thermoelectric generation device includes: a first substrate having a first surface; a second substrate having a second surface facing the first surface; a plurality of thermoelectric generation modules each of which has a plurality of thermoelectric elements and electrodes connecting the thermoelectric elements and which is arranged between the first surface and the second surface; and wiring that is arranged on the first surface and that connects the plurality of thermoelectric generation modules.

A nanophononic metamaterial-based thermoelectric energy conversion device and processes for fabricating a nanophononic metamaterial-based thermoelectric energy conversion device is provided. In one implementation, for example, a nanophononic metamaterial-based thermoelectric energy conversion device includes a first conductive pad, a second conductive pad, and a plurality of strip units. In one implementation, the first conductive pad is coupled to a first connection of the thermoelectric energy conversion device, and the second conductive pad is coupled to a second connection of the thermoelectric energy conversion device. The plurality of strip units are connected in series between the first and second conductive pads and provide a parallel heat transfer pathway. The strip units include a nanostructure design comprising a nanophononic metamaterial.

A printed wiring board includes a core substrate including core material and having opening such that the opening penetrates through the core substrate, thermoelectric elements including P-type and N-type thermoelectric elements such that the thermoelectric elements are accommodated in the opening of the core substrate, a first build-up layer that mounts a heat-absorbing element thereon and includes a first resin insulating layer such that the first resin insulating layer is formed on first surface of the core substrate and covering the opening of the core substrate, and a second build-up layer that mounts a heat-generating element thereon and includes a second resin insulating layer such that the formed on the second resin insulating layer is foamed on second surface of the core substrate on the opposite side and covering the opening of the core substrate and has thickness that is greater than thickness of the first resin insulating layer.