Abstract: A thermoelectric material includes a multiple transition metal-doped type I clathrate crystal structure having the formula A8TMy11TMy22 . . . TMynnMzX46-y1-y2- . . . -yn-z. In the formula, A is selected from the group consisting of barium, strontium, and europium; X is selected from the group consisting of silicon, germanium, and tin; M is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gallium, and indium; TM1, TM2, and TMn are independently selected from the group consisting of 3d, 4d, and 5d transition metals; and y1, y2, yn and Z are actual compositions of TM1, TM2, TMn, and M, respectively. The actual compositions are based upon nominal compositions derived from the following equation: z=8·qA?|?q1|y1?|?q2|y2? . . . ?|?qn|yn, wherein qA is a charge state of A, and wherein ?q1, ?q2, ?qn are, respectively, the nominal charge state of the first, second, and n-th TM.

Abstract: Practices are described for preparing fine-grain, stress-tolerant, brittle, doped semiconductor thermoelectric elements better suited to withstand thermal and mechanical loads without cracking or fracture. Preparation entails net shape powder processing of substantially isotropic thermoelectric compounds such as skutterudites under conditions which promote reduction of the largest grain sizes in a grain size distribution. Nearly three-fold improvements in fracture strength over conventionally-processed thermoelectric elements are observed. The net shape powder processing is adapted for the ready incorporation of the net shape thermoelectric elements into a thermoelectric device.

Abstract: A thermoelectric device includes a nanocomposite material with nanowires of at least one thermoelectric material having a predetermined figure of merit, the nanowires being formed in a porous substrate having a low thermal conductivity and having an average pore diameter ranging from about 4 nm to about 300 nm.

Abstract: A thermoelectric augmented fuel cell system is disclosed. The system includes a fuel cell stack for generating electrical power and a thermoelectric unit provided in thermal contact with the fuel cell stack for receiving thermal energy from the fuel cell stack and generating additional electrical power.

Abstract: Provided is an unbleached paper product made from grass type pulp, the unbleached paper product has a brightness of 35-60% ISO, the grass type pulp is unbleached. The unbleached paper product includes an unbleached toilet paper, an unbleached hand towel, an unbleached wiping paper, an unbleached duplicating paper, an unbleached meal container, an unbleached food wrapping paper and an unbleached printing paper. The paper products have a high intensity and have no detection of dioxin and absorbable organic halides in the harmful substance detection test.

Abstract: One embodiment includes a method for enhancing thermoelectric properties in a thermoelectric material including irradiation processing.

Abstract: A system for heating and cooling a vehicle includes a solar panel disposed on a surface of a vehicle and a thermoelectric unit i) disposed on or in an internal surface disposed in a cabin area of the vehicle, and ii) operatively connected to the solar panel. The thermoelectric unit is configured to heat and/or cool the internal surface in response to electric current applied thereto from the solar panel. The system further includes a control unit operatively associated with the thermoelectric unit. The control unit is configured to determine the amount and direction of the electric current to be applied to the thermoelectric unit based on i) a measured ambient temperature, ii) a measured temperature of the internal surface, and iii) a user-preferred reference temperature.

Abstract: A method of controlling engine exhaust flow through at least one of an exhaust bypass and a thermoelectric device via a bypass valve is provided. The method includes: determining a mass flow of exhaust exiting an engine; determining a desired exhaust pressure based on the mass flow of exhaust; comparing the desired exhaust pressure to a determined exhaust pressure; and determining a bypass valve control value based on the comparing, wherein the bypass valve control value is used to control the bypass valve.

Abstract: A thermoelectric material includes a multiple transition metal-doped type I clathrate crystal structure having the formula A8TMy11TMy22 . . . TMynnMzX46-y1-y2- . . . -yn-z. In the formula, A is selected from the group consisting of barium, strontium, and europium; X is selected from the group consisting of silicon, germanium, and tin; M is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gallium, and indium; TM1, TM2, and TMn are independently selected from the group consisting of 3d, 4d, and 5d transition metals; and y1, y2, yn and Z are actual compositions of TM1, TM2, TMn, and M, respectively. The actual compositions are based upon nominal compositions derived from the following equation: z=8·qA?|?q1|y1?|?q2|y2? . . . ?|?qn|yn, wherein qA is a charge state of A, and wherein ?q1, ?q2, ?qn are, respectively, the nominal charge state of the first, second, and n-th TM.

Abstract: Thermoelectric modules are disposed to be connected to a vehicle coolant system and to an air handling system to provide localized climate control and passenger compartment climate control. Vehicle coolant acts as a heat sink in cooling mode and a heat source in heating mode in embodiments. A system controller in embodiments is disposed to monitor an input for a signal that a monitored climate characteristic has departed from a predefined range of values.

Abstract: One embodiment includes an on-board thermoelectric vehicle system for generating electrical energy using a heated fluid stream, including at least one thermoelectric device having a high temperature junction and a low temperature junction, and a body of high conductivity foam shaped and located to increase heat transfer from the heated fluid stream to the high temperature junction or to increase heat transfer from the low temperature junction of the thermoelectric device.

Abstract: A low-cost filled skutterudite for advanced thermoelectric applications is disclosed. The filled skutterudite uses the relatively low-cost mischmetal, either alone or in addition to rare earth elements, as a starting material for guest or filler atoms.

Abstract: Interstitial voids of the cubic CoSb3 type skutterudite structure can be filled with sodium and/or potassium atoms. Such filled skutterudites have the general formulas, KyCo4Sb12 and NayCo4Sb12, where y indicates the filling fraction of potassium and sodium, respectively, in the CoSb3 cubic crystal structure, and has a value greater than zero and less than one. Also sodium-filled and/or potassium-filled skutterudites of the general formula, (K, Na)yT4Pn12 are made, where T denotes Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, or Ir; and “Pn” denotes one of the pnicogen elements P, As, or Sb. Again, y has values less than one.

Abstract: A thermoelectric material includes a filled skutterudite crystal structure having the formula GyM4X12, where i) G includes at least two rare earth elements and an alkaline earth element, ii) M is cobalt, rhodium, or iridium, and iii) X is antimony, phosphorus, or arsenic. The subscript “y” refers to a crystal structure filling fraction ranging from about 0.001 to about 0.5.

Abstract: A low-cost filled skutterudite for advanced thermoelectric applications is disclosed. The filled skutterudite uses the relatively low-cost mischmetal, either alone or in addition to rare earth elements, as a starting material for guest or filler atoms.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment includes a materials and devices comprising a multi-element filled skutterudite type body-centered cubic crystal structure including GyM4X12, wherein G is at least two elements. The material may include n-type or p-type doping.

Abstract: A method comprising flowing engine combustion exhaust through a thermoelectric device and flowing engine coolant through the thermoelectric device to provide faster engine and transmission warming (coolant, oil).

Abstract: An auxiliary electrical power supply includes a fuel combustor passively sourced with fuel for combusting fuel and a thermoelectric generator close-coupled to the combustor for converting the heat from the combustor to electric power.

Abstract: A fixture device generally includes a base member, a reconfigurable pad comprising a shape memory material configured to selectively conform to a surface contour of a workpiece, and a thermoelectric unit in operative communication with the shape memory material of the reconfigurable pad. A process for operating a fixture device includes passing a current in a first direction through a thermoelectric unit in operative communication with a reconfigurable pad in an amount effective to heat a shape memory material therein to or above a shape setting temperature, contacting a surface of a workpiece with the reconfigurable pad, cooling the shape memory material below the shape setting temperature, and fixturing the workpiece with the fixture device.

Abstract: An active material assembly is provided having a thermally-activated active material apparatus with an elongated, non-planar shape and a thermoelectric device in thermal contact therewith. The thermoelectric device is characterized by a thermal differential when current flows through the device to activate the thermally-activated active material apparatus, thereby altering at least one dimension thereof. Multiple discrete thermoelectric devices may be in thermal contact with the active material apparatus and electrically in parallel with one another. The active material apparatus, which may be multiple active material components, each with one of the thermoelectric devices thereon, may be encased within a flexible electronic-insulating material to form an articulated active material assembly that can achieve different geometric shapes by separately activating one or more of the different thermoelectric devices. A method of fabricating an articulated active material assembly is also provided.