THERMOELECTRIC DEVICES

摘要

One or more thin- film layers of thermoelectric material are formed on one or both sides of a substrate (e.g., a flexible substrate). In some embodiments, the thin-film layers have features that scatter phonons. A flexible substrate and its attached layers of thermoelectric material can be rolled up and/or arranged in a serpentine configuration for incorporation into a thermoelectric power source. In some embodiments, thin- film layers on one side of a substrate form a single, continuous thermoelectric element. In particular embodiments, one or more thin-film layers are fabricated on a substrate using an arrangement where the substrate is wrapped around a wheel and rotated one or more times past a sputtering device or other device for depositing material.