Patent ID: 8754321
Filing Date: 2014-06-17
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A thermoelectric segment comprising: a plurality of bilayers; and a plurality of metal bonding layers, a respective metal bonding layer being between each respective pair of the plurality bilayers; wherein each respective bilayer comprises a pair of respective thin-film metal-semiconductor multilayers, each positioned on opposite sides of respective metal bond layer; wherein each respective multilayer includes a plurality of metal layers and a plurality of alternating semiconductor layers; wherein respective semiconducting layers are disposed between two respective metal layers; wherein respective metal layers are disposed between two semiconducting layers; wherein each respective metal bonding layer is adjacent a layer selected from the group comprising bilayers, metal bonding layers and air; wherein the maximum distance between two metal bonding layers is between 50 μm and 200 μm; and wherein the plurality of thin-film metal-semiconductor multilayers are of the form XN/QN superlattice layers, where X is selected from the group comprising Hf, Zr, Ti, W and combinations thereof, and Q is selected from the group comprising Sc, Y, La, Ga, In, Al and combinations thereof.