Self-composite comprised of nanocrystalline diamond and a non-diamond component useful for thermoelectric applications

Patent · Tue Sep 04 00:00:00 EDT 2012

OSTI ID:1078306

Gruen, Dieter M.

One provides nanocrystalline diamond material that comprises a plurality of substantially ordered diamond crystallites that are sized no larger than about 10 nanometers. One then disposes a non-diamond component within the nanocrystalline diamond material. By one approach this non-diamond component comprises an electrical conductor that is formed at the grain boundaries that separate the diamond crystallites from one another. The resultant nanowire is then able to exhibit a desired increase with respect to its ability to conduct electricity while also preserving the thermal conductivity behavior of the nanocrystalline diamond material.

• Research Organization: Dimerond Technologies, LLC (Downers Grove, IL)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-31-109-ENG-38
• Assignee: Dimerond Technologies, LLC (Downers Grove, IL)
• Patent Number(s): 8,257,494
• Application Number: 12/966,347
• OSTI ID: 1078306
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE