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The explosive consolidation of semiconductor powders results in thermoelectric materials having reduced thermal conductivity without a concurrent reduction in electrical conductivity and thereby allows the construction of thermoelectric generators having improved conversion efficiencies of heat ener

The explosive consolidation of semiconductor powders results in thermoelectric materials having reduced thermal conductivity without a concurrent reduction in electrical conductivity and thereby allows the construction of thermoelectric generators having improved conversion efficiencies of heat energy to electrical energy.

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1. A method for making a thermoelectric material, said method comprising: placing thermoelectric powder particles in a tube;adding a quantity of an electrode material to the tube;positioning an explosive material around the tube; anddetonating the explosive material to generate an explosive shockwav

1. A method for making a thermoelectric material, said method comprising: placing thermoelectric powder particles in a tube;adding a quantity of an electrode material to the tube;positioning an explosive material around the tube; anddetonating the explosive material to generate an explosive shockwave, wherein the explosive shockwave consolidates the thermoelectric powder particles into a solid body. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method occurs adiabatically. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric powder particles comprise a nanopowder having dimensions under 20 nm. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric powder particles and the quantity of the electrode material are arranged in a plurality of alternating layers. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode material is a powder. 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising cutting through each of the plurality of electrode material layers after the detonating step. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric powder particles comprise an element selected from the group consisting of bismuth, tellurium, antimony, selenium and combinations thereof. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric powder particles comprise a plurality of different thermoelectric substances, and each of the plurality of different thermoelectric substances is arranged as a separate layer. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the explosive shockwave creates pressure of 3 GPa to 7 GPa. 10. A method for making a thermoelectric material, said method comprising: placing thermoelectric powder particles in a tube;adding a quantity of an electrode material to the tube;positioning an explosive material around the tube; anddetonating the explosive material to generate an explosive shockwave, wherein the method occurs adiabatically, and the explosive shockwave consolidates the thermoelectric powder particles into a solid body. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the explosive shockwave creates pressure of 3 GPa to 7 GPa. 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the thermoelectric powder particles comprise a nanopowder having dimensions under 20 nm. 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the thermoelectric powder particles and the quantity of the electrode material are arranged in a plurality of alternating layers. 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the electrode material is a powder. 15. The method of claim 10, further comprising cutting through each of the plurality of electrode material layers after the detonating step. 16. The method of claim 10, wherein the thermoelectric powder particles comprise an element selected from the group consisting of bismuth, tellurium, antimony, selenium and combinations thereof. 17. The method of claim 10, wherein the thermoelectric powder particles comprise a plurality of different thermoelectric substances, and each of the plurality of different thermoelectric substances is arranged as a separate layer. 18. A method for making a thermoelectric material, said method comprising: placing thermoelectric powder particles in a tube;adding a quantity of an electrode material to the tube, wherein the electrode material is a powder;capping a first and second end of the tube;placing the tube into an outer container;positioning an explosive material in the outer container around the tube; anddetonating the explosive material to generate an explosive shockwave, wherein the method occurs adiabatically, and the explosive shockwave consolidates the thermoelectric powder particles into a solid body. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the thermoelectric powder particles and the quantity of the electrode material are arranged in a plurality of alternating layers. 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising cutting through each of the plurality of electrode material layers after the detonating step. 21. The method of claim 18, wherein the thermoelectric powder particles comprise a plurality of different thermoelectric substances, and each of the plurality of different thermoelectric substances is arranged as a separate layer. 22. The method of claim 18, wherein the explosive shockwave creates pressure of 3 GPa to 7 GPa.