Thermoelectric materials and related compositions and methods

• US 10,468,574 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2017
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes, a GE Company, LLC (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Suresh, Radhika, Kuznetsov, Oleksandr V., Khabashesku, Valery N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Koslow, C Melissa
• Application Number:
  US15/586,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20180342660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 2201/001 Conductive additives
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 2201/011 Nanostructured additives
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 3/041 Carbon nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 3/042 Graphene or derivatives, e.g. graphene oxides
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 9/02 Ingredients treated with inorganic substances
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/225 comprising substituents
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/01 Manufacture or treatment
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/13 characterised by the heat-exchanging means at the junction
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/856 comprising organic compositions
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/857 comprising compositions changing continuously or discontinuously inside the material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/549 Organic PV cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/74 Modified with atoms or molecules bonded to the surface

Abstract

A thermoelectric material includes a polymer matrix and a plurality of partially coated particles dispersed within the polymer matrix. Each particle of the plurality has a discontinuous coating of metal on a carbon-based material. A method includes dispersing functionalized particles comprising a carbon-based material in a solvent; providing a metal salt in the solvent; and forming a plurality of distinct metal volumes on a surface of the functionalized particles to form partially coated particles. The distinct metal volumes are thermally insulated from other volumes of the plurality. A composition of matter includes a discontinuous coating of metal on a surface of a carbon-based material. The carbon-based material is selected from the group consisting of graphene oxide and functionalized carbon nanotubes.

Claims

1. A thermoelectric material, comprising:

a polymer matrix; and

a plurality of partially coated particles comprising graphene oxide and dispersed within the polymer matrix, each particle of the plurality having a discontinuous coating of metal on a carbon-based material.

2. The thermoelectric material of claim 1, wherein the discontinuous coating of metal comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, copper, and silver.

3. The thermoelectric material of claim 1, wherein the plurality of partially coated particles comprises functionalized carbon nanotubes.

4. The thermoelectric material of claim 1, wherein the discontinuous coating comprises a plurality of thermally insulated islands of metal over the carbon-based material.

5. The thermoelectric material of claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric material exhibits an electrical conductivity of at least 0.005 S/cm.

6. A thermoelectric material, comprising:

a polymer matrix; and

a plurality of coated particles dispersed within the polymer matrix, each particle of the plurality having a discontinuous coating of metal on a carbon-based material;

wherein the thermoelectric material exhibits a figure of merit of at least 0.9.

7. A thermoelectric material, comprising:

a polymer matrix; and

a plurality of partially coated particles dispersed within the polymer matrix, each particle of the plurality having a discontinuous coating of metal on a carbon-based material;

wherein the thermoelectric material exhibits a thermal conductivity of less than 10<sup>−

2</sup> mW/cm·

K.

8. A thermoelectric material, comprising:

a polymer matrix; and

a plurality of partially coated particles dispersed within the polymer matrix, each particle of the plurality having a discontinuous coating of metal on a carbon-based material;

wherein the thermoelectric material exhibits a Seebeck coefficient of at least 1000 μ

V/K.