THERMOELECTRIC DEVICES AND SYSTEMS
The present disclosure provides a thermoelectric element comprising a flexible semiconductor substrate having exposed surfaces with a metal content that is less than about 1% as measured by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and a figure of merit (ZT) that is at least about 0.25, wherein the flexible semiconductor substrate has a Young's Modulus that is less than or equal to about 1×10 6 pounds per square inch (psi) at 25° C.
1 .- 30 . (canceled)
31 . A wearable power management system, comprising:
an electronic device; and
a thermoelectric device integrated with said electronic device, wherein said thermoelectric device comprises (i) a thermoelectric unit having a heat transfer surface that rests adjacent to a body surface of a user, and (ii) a band coupled to said thermoelectric unit, wherein said band secures said thermoelectric device to said body surface of said user, wherein said band comprises a heat expelling unit comprising at least one heat pipe that is in thermal communication with said thermoelectric unit,
wherein said thermoelectric unit comprise a thermoelectric element that generates power for said electronic device upon flow of thermal energy from said heat transfer surface to said separate heat expelling unit, which thermoelectric element comprises a thermoelectric material that has a figure of merit (ZT) that is at least about 0.25 at 25° C.
32 . The wearable power management system of claim 31 , wherein said thermoelectric element is flexible.
33 . The wearable power management system of claim 32 , wherein said thermoelectric element bends at an angle of at least about 10° relative to a measurement plane.
34 . The wearable power management system of claim 31 , wherein said thermoelectric material is silicon.
35 . The wearable power management system of claim 31 , wherein said thermoelectric element comprises holes.
36 . The wearable power management system of claim 35 , wherein said thermoelectric element comprises a disordered pattern of holes.
37 . The wearable power management system of claim 31 , wherein said electronic device is a watch.
38 . The wearable power management system of claim 31 , wherein said electronic device comprises a computer processor.
39 . The wearable power management system of claim 31 , further comprising an energy storage device operatively coupled to said thermoelectric unit.
40 . The wearable power management system of claim 31 , wherein said ZT is at least about 0.50 at 25° C.
41 . A wearable power management system, comprising:
an electronic device; and
a thermoelectric device comprising (i) a thermoelectric unit having a heat transfer surface that rests adjacent to a body surface of a user, (ii) a band coupled to said thermoelectric unit, wherein said band secures said thermoelectric device to said body surface of said user, and (iii) a separate heat expelling unit in thermal communication with said thermoelectric unit,
wherein said thermoelectric unit comprise a thermoelectric element that generates power for said electronic device upon flow of thermal energy from said heat transfer surface to said separate heat expelling unit, which thermoelectric element comprises a thermoelectric material that has a figure of merit (ZT) that is at least about 0.25 at 25° C.
42 . The wearable power management system of claim 41 , wherein said separate heat expelling unit comprises at least one heat pipe that is in thermal communication with said thermoelectric unit.
43 . The wearable power management system of claim 41 , wherein said thermoelectric element is flexible.
44 . The wearable power management system of claim 43 , wherein said thermoelectric element bends at an angle of at least about 10° relative to a measurement plane.
45 . The wearable power management system of claim 41 , wherein said thermoelectric material is silicon.
46 . The wearable power management system of claim 41 , wherein said thermoelectric element comprises holes.
47 . The wearable power management system of claim 46 , wherein said thermoelectric element comprises a disordered pattern of holes.
48 . The wearable power management system of claim 41 , wherein said electronic device is a watch.
49 . The wearable power management system of claim 41 , wherein said electronic device comprises a computer processor.
50 . The wearable power management system of claim 41 , wherein said system comprises an energy device operatively coupled to said thermoelectric unit.