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Title: Methods and devices for controlling thermal conductivity and thermoelectric power of semiconductor nanowires

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1532142
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Methods and devices for controlling thermal conductivity and thermoelectric power of semiconductor nanowires are described. The thermal conductivity and the thermoelectric power are controlled substantially independently of the electrical conductivity of the nanowires by controlling dimensions and doping, respectively, of the nanowires. A thermoelectric device comprising p-doped and n-doped semiconductor nanowire thermocouples is also shown, together with a method to fabricate alternately p-doped and n-doped arrays of silicon nanowires.

Research Organization:
California Institute of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
FG02-04ER46175; N00014-07-1-0360; N00014-06-1-0938; CCF0524490
Assignee:
California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, CA)
Patent Number(s):
9,209,375
Application Number:
12/175,027
OSTI ID:
1532142
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2008-07-17
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (9)

Thermoelectric Device, Thermoelectric Device Module, and Method of Forming the Thermoelectric Device patent-application May 2010
Methods of fabricating nanostructures and nanowires and devices fabricated therefrom patent August 2009
Nanowire Thermoelectric Device patent-application June 2010
Method and apparatus for the use of self-assembled nanowires for the removal of heat from integrated circuits patent-application August 2004
Growth method for silicon nanowires and nanoparticle chains from silicon monoxide patent November 2001
Nanowire varactor diode and methods of making same patent October 2006
Silicon optoelectronic device using silicon nanowire and method for preparing the same patent-application November 2005
Process of Forming Silicon-Based Nanowires patent-application August 2005
Nanowires, nanostructures and devices fabricated therefrom patent April 2005

Cited By (7)

Method for forming thermoelectric element using electrolytic etching patent February 2016
Systems and methods for forming thermoelectric devices patent December 2016
Thermoelectric smartwatch patent June 2018
Systems and methods for forming thermoelectric devices patent February 2019
Phononic structures and related devices and methods patent March 2017
Nanomesh phononic structures for low thermal conductivity and thermoelectric energy conversion materials patent August 2016
Methods for forming thermoelectric elements patent June 2018

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Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY