초록 ▼

The present invention allows optimum filling of cavities or cages typically found in crystal lattice type structures associated with an inclusion complex such as formed by clathrate compounds. Filling such cavities or cages in the associated crystal lattice type structure provides semiconductor mate

The present invention allows optimum filling of cavities or cages typically found in crystal lattice type structures associated with an inclusion complex such as formed by clathrate compounds. Filling such cavities or cages in the associated crystal lattice type structure provides semiconductor materials which are particularly beneficial for use in fabricating thermoelectric devices for electrical power generation and/or cooling applications. By filling the cavities or cages associated with clathrate compounds with selected metal and/or semi-metal atoms, reductions in thermal conductivity may be optimized while at the same time minimizing any reduction in electrical properties of the resulting semiconductor materials. As a result, the thermoelectric Figure of Merit for a thermoelectric device fabricated from such clathrate compounds is maximized. The present invention allows optimizing both the size and type of atoms used to fill cavities or cages in an inclusion complex and to optimize the ratio between a first group of inclusion atoms and a second group of inclusion atoms used to fill such cavities or cages to maximize the thermoelectric Figure of Merit for the resulting thermoelectric device.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A thermoelectric device having at least one thermoelectric element formed in part from an inclusion complex having a first material component and a second material component which cooperate with each other to form a crystal lattice structure comprising:a unit cell formed

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A thermoelectric device having at least one thermoelectric element formed in part from an inclusion complex having a first material component and a second material component which cooperate with each other to form a crystal lattice structure comprising:a unit cell formed from atoms of the first material component having at least two cavities sized to respectively receive an atom of the second material component therein;the atoms of the first material component different from the atoms of the second material component; andthe atoms of the second material component disposed within the respective cavities without forming a metallurgical bond with adjacent atoms of the first material component.