Thermoelectric Material High-Conductivity Conduction Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current thermoelectric materials face limitations in improving the thermoelectric figure of merit (zT) due to the inherent correlation between electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity, where increasing electrical conductivity often results in increased thermal conductivity, thereby not significantly enhancing zT.
Innovation Solution
A thermoelectric material comprising a thermoelectric inorganic element with a conduction path of high electrical conductivity, greater than 1000 S/cm, which suppresses thermal conductivity by acting as a barrier to lattice vibrations while enhancing electrical conductivity, thereby adjusting the conventional correlation between electrical and thermal conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical conductivity of thermoelectric material is increased, then electrical conductivity is improved, but thermal conductivity is also increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material structure consisting of a thermoelectric inorganic material (Bi-Sb-Te-S-Se system) combined with a conductive material phase. This composite approach allows the conductive material to provide high electrical conductivity pathways while the thermoelectric inorganic material maintains low thermal conductivity through its inherent phonon scattering properties, thus resolving the contradiction between electrical and thermal conductivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates local quality differentiation by forming a conductive material phase with specific properties at the microstructural level. The conductive material phase is distributed within the thermoelectric inorganic material matrix, providing localized high electrical conductivity regions while the overall material maintains low thermal conductivity through the matrix structure and grain boundary effects
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 thermoelectric material achieves improved electrical conductivity while reducing thermal conductivity, thereby enhancing the thermoelectric figure of merit (zT) and demonstrating excellent thermoelectric performance for energy generation and cooling applications.
Implementation Method 1
a conduction path in contact with a surface of the thermoelectric element, wherein the conduction path includes a conductive material having an electrical conductivity of greater than or equal to about 1000 Siemens per centimeter (S/cm)... suppresses thermal conductivity by acting as a barrier to lattice vibrations
Implementation Method 2
the thermoelectric effect can be classified as... a Seebeck effect when applied to waste heat power generation by using an electromotive force generated from the temperature difference at opposite ends of the thermoelectric material
Implementation Method 3
the thermoelectric effect can be classified as a Peltier effect when applied to active heating and cooling by using a temperature difference at opposite ends of the thermoelectric material formed by an externally applied current
Data Source
AI summary
A thermoelectric material including a thermoelectric element including thermoelectric inorganic material represented by Chemical Formula 1; and a conduction path in contact with a surface of the thermoelectric element, wherein the conduction path is formed of a conductive material having electrical conductivity of greater than or equal to about 1,000 Siemens per centimeterBixSb(2-x)Te(3-y-z)SeySz Chemical Formula 1wherein 0<x≤2, 0≤y≤3, 0≤z≤3, and 0≤y+z≤3.