Patent ID: 9178128
Filing Date: 2015-11-03
Classification: H01B,H01L

Abstract:
1. A thermoelectric device comprising: at least one shunt; at least one thermoelectric element of a first material in thermal and electrical communication with the at least one shunt; and at least one interface material different from the first material between the at least one shunt and the at least one thermoelectric element, wherein the at least one interface material comprises a plurality of cores of a second material separated from one another and surrounded on all sides by a shell of a third material different from the second material, wherein the at least one interface material is at least 95% dense and configured to undergo deformation under at least one of the group consisting of: (i) a normal load between the at least one shunt and the at least one thermoelectric element, the normal load being in a direction generally perpendicular to a plane that is generally parallel to the at least one shunt and the at least one thermoelectric element, and (ii) a shear load between the at least one shunt and the at least one thermoelectric element, the shear load being in a direction generally parallel to the plane that is generally parallel to the at least one shunt and the at least one thermoelectric element, wherein the deformation reduces interface stress between the at least one shunt and the at least one thermoelectric element, wherein the second material comprises at least one thermally and electrically conductive material or at least one dielectric material, the at least one thermally and electrically conductive material comprising at least one of the group consisting of: carbon, graphite, silicon carbide, Si, W, TiC, and WC, the at least one dielectric material comprising at least one of the group consisting of: aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, glass frits, and glass bubbles.