Perovskite Thermoelectric Sensor Legs for High-Temperature Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermoelectric systems for high-temperature thermal sensing applications rely on expensive materials like platinum or indium tin oxide, and these systems suffer from degradation due to high-temperature reactions between n and p components, leading to inaccurate measurements over time.
Innovation Solution
A thermoelectric system comprising p-type and n-type materials formed from LnAlO3 doped with strontium and cobalt or manganese and niobium, respectively, with a perovskite structure, which are less reactive and maintain sensing ability at high temperatures without platinum or indium tin oxide, using a manufacturing process involving solid state reaction, spray drying, and plasma spraying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If platinum or indium tin oxide materials are used in thermoelectric systems, then sensing precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters by using doped LnAlO3 perovskite structures with specific dopant combinations (strontium and cobalt for p-type, manganese and niobium for n-type) to achieve high sensing precision without requiring complex platinum or indium tin oxide materials. The doping concentrations and material composition are optimized to maintain measurement precision while simplifying the overall device structure.
2Power
If conventional thermoelectric materials are used at high temperatures, then power is maintained, but reliability deteriorates due to degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material design by creating p-type and n-type thermoelectric materials with specific dopant combinations within the LnAlO3 perovskite structure. This composite approach with strontium-cobalt doping for p-type and manganese-niobium doping for n-type materials provides both the necessary power output at high temperatures and enhanced reliability by preventing degradation through controlled material composition and reduced reactivity.
3Power
If n-type and p-type materials are made highly reactive, then power generation is improved, but stability of composition worsens due to high-temperature reactions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating distinct p-type and n-type material regions with specific dopant compositions within the LnAlO3 perovskite structure. The p-type material is locally optimized with strontium and cobalt doping, while the n-type material is locally optimized with manganese and niobium doping. This localized compositional control maintains stable composition at high temperatures while preserving the necessary reactivity for power generation in each respective material region.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system maintains sensing ability within 1-25% of initial performance after 1-100 hours at high temperatures, avoiding material degradation and ensuring accurate temperature measurements.
Implementation Method 1
plasma spraying the p-type agglomerates onto a substrate to form a p-type sensor leg having a perovskite crystal structure
Implementation Method 2
a voltmeter configured to measure a voltage differential between the p-type sensor leg and the n-type sensor leg
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are embodiments of n and p-type components with high temperature refractory material having a perovskite crystal structure. The material may be doped to generate, for example, p-type and n-type sensor legs. In some embodiments, expensive materials may be avoided. Further, the disclosed materials can avoid high temperature reaction between n-type components and p-type components.