Background: A conventional TE device made of one type of semiconductor of material can be optimized for a specific range of temperature by choosing a semiconductor material that possesses physical properties (e.g. bandgap) suitable for a target range of temperature. This design scheme works only when a temperature range specified by the difference in temperature between the hot side and the cold side is relatively small. As a thermodynamic heat engine a TE device works better when the temperature difference is larger however one type of semiconductor material with fixed physical characteristics cannot cover a large temperature difference. Technology Description: UC Santa Cruz researchers have designed and developed a material platform that combines a semiconductor nanowire network and a semiconductor thin film integrated directly on a mechanically flexible metallic substrate; utilizing multiple materials to address various temperature ranges at which each material is most efficient to a given temperature gradient. UCSC invention describes thermoelectric (TE) devices that can efficiently harvest waste heat energy by using multiple materials each of which is optimized for a specific temperature range. Embodiments of the invention allow one to fabricate a TE device that can cover a large temperature difference by combining several semiconductor materials in series which maximize overall energy conversion efficiency for a given temperature difference. Applications: Thermoelectric devices which can harvest waste heat energy by using multiple materials each of which is optimized for a specific temperature range.
Optimize thermoelectric devices to harness energy which is commonly wasted in conventional TE devices.