Thermal transfer and power generation devices and methods of making the same
First Claim
1. A device comprising:
- a first thermally conductive substrate having a first patterned electrode disposed thereon;
a second thermally conductive substrate having a second patterned electrode disposed thereon, wherein the first and second thermally conductive substrates are arranged such that the first and second patterned electrodes are adjacent to one another;
a plurality of nanowires disposed between the first and second patterned electrodes, wherein the plurality of nanowires is formed of a thermoelectric material; and
a joining material disposed between the plurality of nanowires and at least one of the first and second patterned electrodes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device includes a first thermally conductive substrate having a first patterned electrode disposed thereon and a second thermally conductive substrate having a second patterned electrode disposed thereon, wherein the first and second thermally conductive substrates are arranged such that the first and second patterned electrodes are adjacent to one another. The device includes a plurality of nanowires disposed between the first and second patterned electrodes, wherein the plurality of nanowires is formed of a thermoelectric material. The device also includes a joining material disposed between the plurality of nanowires and at least one of the first and second patterned electrodes.
115 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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a first thermally conductive substrate having a first patterned electrode disposed thereon;
a second thermally conductive substrate having a second patterned electrode disposed thereon, wherein the first and second thermally conductive substrates are arranged such that the first and second patterned electrodes are adjacent to one another;
a plurality of nanowires disposed between the first and second patterned electrodes, wherein the plurality of nanowires is formed of a thermoelectric material; and
a joining material disposed between the plurality of nanowires and at least one of the first and second patterned electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A device, comprising:
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a first thermally conductive substrate having a first patterned electrode disposed thereon;
a second thermally conductive substrate having a second patterned electrode disposed thereon;
a thermally insulating template disposed between the first and second thermally conductive substrates;
a plurality of nanowires disposed within the thermally insulating template, wherein the plurality of nanowires are bonded to the first and second thermally conductive substrates through diffusion bonding and wherein the plurality of nanowires is formed of a thermoelectric material; and
a thermally insulating material disposed on selective areas of the thermally insulating template between the plurality of nanowires, wherein introduction of current flow between the first and second thermally conductive substrates enables heat transfer between the first and second thermally conductive substrates via a flow of charge between the first and second thermally conductive substrates. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of manufacturing a device, comprising:
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providing a first thermally conductive substrate having a first patterned electrode disposed thereon;
providing a second thermally conductive substrate having a second patterned electrode disposed thereon;
depositing a plurality of nanowires within a thermally insulating template disposed between the first and second patterned electrodes; and
disposing a joining material between the plurality of nanowires and the first and second patterned electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method of manufacturing a device, comprising:
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providing a plurality of thermal transfer units having a plurality of nanowires disposed between first and second patterned electrodes, wherein the plurality of nanowires are disposed within a thermally insulating template having portions of a thermally insulating material disposed on selective areas of the thermally insulating template;
mounting the plurality of thermal transfer units between opposite substrates; and
electrically coupling the plurality of thermal transfer units.
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46. A device, comprising:
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a first thermally conductive substrate having a first patterned electrode disposed thereon;
a second thermally conductive substrate having a second patterned electrode disposed thereon, wherein the first and second thermally conductive substrates are arranged such that the first and second patterned electrodes are adjacent to one another;
a plurality of nanowires disposed between the first and second patterned electrodes, wherein the plurality of nanowires is formed of a thermoelectric material; and
means for joining the plurality of nanowires to the first and second thermally conductive substrates.
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47. A system, comprising:
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a heat source;
a heat sink; and
a thermoelectric device coupled between the heat source and the heat sink and configured to provide cooling or to generate power, the device comprising;
a first thermally conductive substrate having a first patterned electrode disposed thereon;
a second thermally conductive substrate having a second patterned electrode disposed thereon, wherein the first and second thermally conductive substrates are arranged such that the first and second patterned electrodes are adjacent to one another;
a plurality of nanowires disposed between the first and second patterned electrodes, wherein the plurality of nanowires is formed of a thermoelectric material; and
a joining material disposed between the plurality of nanowires and at least one of the first and second patterned electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49)
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Specification