IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,279,533
Granted Patent B2
US 12,279,533 · App. 17/414,608 · Granted Apr 15, 2025

Thermoelectric materials

Inventors: Maurice Collins (Limerick, IE); Mario Culebras Rubio (Limerick, IE); Juan Jose Vilatela (Madrid, ES)
Assignees: UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK; FUNDACION IMDEA MATERIALES
H10N10/857C08L97/005H10N10/01H10N10/856
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,279,533
App. No.
17/414,608
Granted
Apr 15, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A thermoelectric material comprising carbon nanotubes and lignin. The carbon nanotubes are present as fibres and the lignin is present in pores and/or voids in the carbon nanotube fibres. The lignin may act as a dopant to increase the thermoelectric efficiency of the carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes in particular. A method of forming a thermoelectric material involving impregnating fibres of carbon nanotubes with lignin, is also provided. A thermoelectric element, a fabric and a thermoelectric device comprising the thermoelectric material are also provided. The thermoelectric material may be particularly useful for the production of wearable thermoelectric devices.

Claims (10)

1. A thermoelectric material comprising carbon nanotube fibres impregnated with lignin, wherein the thermoelectric material is a yarn comprising the fibres of the carbon nanotubes impregnated with lignin, wherein the thermoelectric material comprises from 5 to 65 wt % of the lignin.

2. The thermoelectric material according to claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotubes are multi-walled carbon nanotubes.

3. The thermoelectric material according to claim 1 , wherein the lignin is an organosolve lignin.

4. The thermoelectric material according to claim 1 , comprising at least 10 wt % lignin.

5. A thermoelectric element comprising a thermoelectric material according to claim 1 .

6. A fabric comprising a thermoelectric material according to claim 1 .

7. A thermoelectric device comprising a thermoelectric material according to claim 1 .

8. The thermoelectric device according to claim 7 , wherein the thermoelectric device is adapted to be arranged in use on a user's body and to generate electricity from heat from said body of said user.

9. A thermoelectric device comprising a thermoelectric element according to claim 5 .

10. A thermoelectric device comprising a fabric according to claim 6 .

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 22, 2023
From: FUNDACIÓN IMDEA MATERIALES
To: THE UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK
Reel/Frame 063712/0068 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2021
From: COLLINS, MAURICE; RUBIO, MARIO CULEBRAS
To: THE UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK
Reel/Frame 056575/0845 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2021
From: VILATELA, JUAN JOSE
To: FUNDACION IMDEA MATERIALES
Reel/Frame 056617/0464 →
Priority Claims (1)
GB 1820651 · Dec 18, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220052246A1 · Feb 17, 2022
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