Lance L Miller

US Patent:

7560053, Jul 14, 2009

Filed:

Feb 16, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/357738

Inventors:

Nobuyoshi Imaoka - Fuji-city, Shizuoka, 416-8501, JP
Isao Morimoto - Fuji-city, Shizuoka, 416-8501, JP
Lance L. Miller - Eugene OR, US
Robert Schneidmiller - Eugene OR, US
David Charles Johnson - Eugene OR, US

International Classification:

H01B 1/06
H01L 35/16

US Classification:

2525194, 2525211, 252 623 T, 136238

Abstract:

Thermoelectric materials with a high Seebeck coefficient and a large power factor are provided. The materials are impact resistant and resistant to heat-distortion. Such materials include a rare earth element, Bi, and Te and have a rhombohedral crystal structure. In some examples, the rare earth element is selected from the group consisting of Ce, Sm and Yb. Such materials can be formed as films with a thickness of from 0. 01 to 500 μm on a resin substrate. Production methods may include laminating different types of layers of thickness of 20 nm or less and heat-treating the resultant composition-modulated composite. The material may be separated from a substrate for sintering.