Patent ID: 7179986
Filing Date: 2007-02-20
Classification: B82Y,H01L

Abstract:
1. A thermoelectric (TE) device comprising: a first leg comprising one of an N-type TE material and a P-type TE material; and a second leg comprising one of an N-type material and a P-type material, wherein when said first leg comprises N-type material said second leg comprises P-type material and when said first leg comprises P-type material said second leg comprises N-type material, said first leg in electrical and thermal communication with said second leg, and wherein said TE device has a lattice constant mismatch and a ratio of Eg/kT such that said TE device has a ZT value of approximately 2.0 at a temperature of approximately 300K wherein said first leg of TE material comprises alternating layers of a quantum dot material and a matrix material, wherein said quantum dot material is selected from the group including a pseudobinary alloy and a pseudoternary alloy, wherein said pseudobinary alloy comprises PbSnTe.