Abstract: Methods of fabricating a shaped material includes laser irradiating a first layer of a powder to convert the powder to a first material layer; disposing a second layer of the powder on the first material layer; laser irradiating the second layer of the powder to convert the powder to a second material layer; and fusing the first material layer and the second material layer, forming a shaped material having semiconducting or thermoelectric properties. A system to fabricate a shaped material includes an enclosure; a powder containment vessel within the enclosure and having a base, a powder storage section and a shaped material formation section adjacent to the storage section; a transfer mechanism for transferring a powder from the storage section to the formation section; and a laser to irradiate the powder when the powder is located within the formation section.

Abstract: Thermoelectric solid material and method thereof. The thermoelectric solid material includes a plurality of nanowires. Each nanowire of the plurality of nanowires corresponds to an aspect ratio (e.g., a ratio of a length of a nanowire to a diameter of the nanowire) equal to or larger than 10, and each nanowire of the plurality of nanowires is chemically bonded to one or more other nanowires at at least two locations of the each nanowire.