NU 2007-079B
Inventors
Mercouri G. Kanatzidis*
Joseph R. Sootsman
Steven N. Girard
Qichun Zhang
Kaniska Biswas
Short Description
Lead-based composite material for conversion of waste heat into electrical energy
Abstract
Thermoelectric devices such as power generators, heat pumps, coolers and thermal sensors have several advantages over traditional energy converting systems. These devices are portable, reliable and environmentally friendly. However, their efficiency of energy conversion is low compared to current alternatives and this impedes their widespread use. In order to increase energy conversion efficiency, new materials with advantageous thermoelectric properties must be generated. The Kanatzidis group at Northwestern University has invented a new class of thermoelectric composite materials, which display very high conversion efficiencies. To design these materials, researchers inserted nano- and micro-structured islands of PbSnS2 into the lead-telluride bulk material. The resulting composites display extremely high-energy conversion efficiencies and are mechanically stronger then the starting materials. Therefore, these novel lead-based eutectic composites may find uses outside of energy conversion devices.
Applications
Advantages
Publications
Sootsman JR, Kong H, Uher C, Wu C-I, Hogan TP, Caillat T, Kanatzidis MG (2008) Large Enhancemens in the Thermoelectric Power Factor of Bulk PbTe at High Temperature by Synergistic Nanostructuring. Angewandte. Chemie. 47(45): 8618-8622.
Biswas K, He J, Zhang Q, Wang G, Uher C, Dravid VP, Kanatzidis MG. Strained Endotaxial Nanostructures with High Thermoelectric Figure of Merit (2011). Nature Chemistry. 3(2): 160-166.
IP Status
Issued US Patent Nos. 8,277,677 and 8,778,214