Thermoelectric Apparatus And Applications Thereof

Abstract

In some embodiments, thermoelectric apparatus and various applications of thermoelectric apparatus are described herein. In some embodiments, a thermoelectric apparatus described herein comprises at least one p-type layer coupled to at least one n-type layer to provide a pn junction, and an insulating layer at least partially disposed between the p-type layer and the n-type layer, the p-type layer comprising a plurality of carbon nanoparticles and the n-type layer comprising a plurality of n-doped carbon nanoparticles.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A photo-thermal apparatus comprising:
 a photovoltaic component and a thermoelectric component, the thermoelectric component comprising:   at least one p-type layer coupled to at least one n-type layer to provide a pn junction; and   an insulating layer at least partially disposed between the p-type layer and then-type layer, the p-type layer comprising a plurality of carbon nanoparticles and the n-type layer comprising a plurality of n-doped carbon nanoparticles.   
     
     
         29 . The photo-thermal apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the thermoelectric apparatus comprises a plurality of p-type layers coupled to a plurality of n-type layers providing a plurality of pn junctions and insulating layers at least partially disposed between the p-type layers and the n-type layers. 
     
     
         30 . The photo-thermal apparatus of  claim 28 , where carbon nanoparticles of the p-type layer comprise single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, fullerenes or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         31 . The photo-thermal apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein then-doped carbon nanoparticles of then-type layer comprise single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, fullerenes or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         32 . The photo-thermal apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the carbon nanoparticles of the p-type layer are disposed in a polymeric matrix and the n-doped carbon nanoparticles of the n-type layer are disposed in a polymeric matrix. 
     
     
         33 . The photo-thermal apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the photovoltaic component comprises a radiation transmissive first electrode and a radiation transmissive second electrode and at least one photosensitive layer disposed between the radiation transmissive first electrode and the radiation transmissive second electrode. 
     
     
         34 . The photo-thermal apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the at least one photosensitive layer comprises a photosensitive organic material, a photosensitive inorganic material or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         35 . The photo-thermal apparatus of  claim 33  further comprising a Stokes shift layer disposed between the photovoltaic component and the thermoelectric component, the Stokes shift layer comprises one or more Stokes shift chemical species. 
     
     
         36 . The photo-thermal apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the one or more Stokes shift chemical species are operable to absorb electromagnetic radiation passing through the photovoltaic component. 
     
     
         37 . The photo-thermal apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the one or more Stokes shift chemical species comprises a dye. 
     
     
         38 . The photo-thermal apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the one or more Stokes shift chemical species comprises a phosphor.