The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 17, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 16, 1998
Theodore C. Harman, Lexington, MA (US);
Mildred S. Dresselhaus, Arlington, MA (US);
David L. Spears, Acton, MA (US);
Michael P. Walsh, Lunenberg, MA (US);
Stephen B. Cronin, Cambridge, MA (US);
Xiangzhong Sun, Cambridge, MA (US);
Takaaki Koga, Cambridge, MA (US);
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (US);
Abstract
A superlattice structure for thermoelectric power generation includes m monolayers of a first barrier material alternating with n monolayers of a second quantum well material with a pair of monolayers defining a superlattice period and each of the materials having a relatively smooth interface therebetween. Each of the quantum well layers have a thickness which is less than the thickness of the barrier layer by an amount which causes substantial confinement of conduction carriers to the quantum well layer and the alternating layers provide a superlattice structure having a figure of merit which increases with increasing temperature.