THERMOELECTRIC APPARATUS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME

摘要

A thermoelectric apparatus comprises at least one pair of adjacent portions of p-type and n-type semiconductor material each portion having respective, generally oppositely disposed, first and second surface regions. Said first surface regions of each said pair are coupled either directly, or indirectly via a metallic conductor, or indirectly via a doped electrically conductive semiconductor and said second surface regions are electrically connectable to an external circuit. The p-type and n-type semiconductor material comprises porous semiconductor material which allows a high dimensionless figure of merit to be achieved for either thermo-electrical power generation or thermo electrical cooling.