Thermoelectric devices and systems

Abstract

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.