The Ohio State University

Zt Plus

Joseph P Heremans

Vladimir Jovovic

Claudia Felser

Timothy McCormick

Brandi Wooten

Sarah Watzman

Christopher M Jaworski

Nandini Trivedi

Fred Harris

Electrically controlled solid-state thermal switches and methods of controlling heat flow. An electrostrictive material is electromagnetically coupled to first and second electrodes that provide an electric field to the electrostrictive material. Different portions of the electrostrictive material are thermally coupled to each of a heat sink and a thermal load so that heat flowing from one into the other passes through the electrostrictive material. A control voltage is applied to the electrodes to selectively generate the electric field, thereby selectively altering the thermal conductivity of the electrostrictive material. The heat sink and thermal load are thereby selectively thermally coupled to each other in dependence on the control voltage.

Electrically controlled solid-state thermal switch

Thermoelectric devices and methods of using thermoelectric devices. A thermoelectric device includes a thermoelectric element comprised of a material having a non-zero Berry curvature. The device may operate as a Nernst generator that generates electricity in response to application of a temperature gradient to the thermoelectric element, or as an Ettingshausen cooler that pumps heat into or out of an object to be heated or cooled in response to application of a current to the thermoelectric element. In either application, the non-zero Berry curvature of the material allows the device to operate without an externally applied magnetic field.

Thermoelectric device utilizing non-zero berry curvature

A thermoelectric material and a method of making a thermoelectric material are provided. In certain embodiments, the thermoelectric material comprises at least 10 volume percent porosity. In some embodiments, the thermoelectric material has a zT greater than about 1.2 at a temperature of about 375 K. In some embodiments, the thermoelectric material comprises a topological thermoelectric material. In some embodiments, the thermoelectric material comprises a general composition of (BiSb)(TeSe), wherein 0&#x2266;x&#x2266;1, 0&#x2266;y&#x2266;1, 1.8&#x2266;u&#x2266;2.2, 2.8&#x2266;w&#x2266;3.2. In further embodiments, the thermoelectric material includes a compound having at least one group IV element and at least one group VI element. In certain embodiments, the method includes providing a powder comprising a thermoelectric composition, pressing the powder, and sintering the powder to form the thermoelectric material.

Thermoelectric materials having porosity

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Upper Arlington, OH, United States of America

Joseph P Heremans