Thermoelectric material and thermoelectric module

Abstract

A thermoelectric material is manufactured by a manufacturing process including annealing at an annealing temperature from 125° C. to 200° C. and for an annealing time from 5 minutes to 12 hours applied to a substance selected from the group consisting of conductive polymer, polystyrene sulfonate (PSS), tosylate (TOS), chloride and perchlorate and a substance as solvent selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, ethanol, dimethyl sulfoxide and isopropanol.

1 . A thermoelectric material obtained by a manufacturing process comprising annealing at an annealing temperature from 125° C. to 200° C. and for an annealing time from 5 minutes to 12 hours applied to a material which comprises conductive polymer, a substance selected from the group consisting of polystyrene sulfonate (PSS), tosylate (TOS), chloride and perchlorate and a substance as solvent selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, ethanol, dimethyl sulfoxide and isopropanol. 
     
     
         2 . The thermoelectric material according to  claim 1 , wherein the conductive polymer is Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT). 
     
     
         3 . The thermoelectric material according to  claim 1 , wherein the solvent is ethylene glycol with the additive amount of equal to or more than 3% by weight. 
     
     
         4 . The thermoelectric material according to  claim 1 , wherein the annealing temperature is about 150° C. 
     
     
         5 . The thermoelectric material according to  claim 1 , wherein the annealing time is at least equal to more than 30 minutes. 
     
     
         6 . The thermoelectric material according to  claim 1 , wherein the manufacturing process comprises a process of making the material contain water. 
     
     
         7 . The thermoelectric material according to  claim 1 , wherein a process of sealing the material is performed after the process of making the material contain water. 
     
     
         8 . A thermoelectric module obtained by using a p-type or an n-type of the thermoelectric material according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . A thermoelectric module obtained by combining a p-type and an n-type of the thermoelectric material according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . A thermoelectric module obtained by connecting a plurality of units in series in which a plurality of elements are connected in parallel, the element being formed by connecting the thermoelectric materials according to  claim 1  in series. 
     
     
         11 . A thermoelectric module obtained by connecting a plurality of units in parallel in which a plurality of elements are connected in series, the element being formed by connecting the thermoelectric materials according to  claim 1  in parallel. 
     
     
         12 . A method of preparing a thermoelectric material comprising annealing a material which comprises conductive polymer, a substance selected from the group consisting of polystyrene sulfonate (PSS), tosylate (TOS), chloride and perchlorate and a solvent selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, ethanol, dimethyl sulfoxide and isopropanol at a temperature from 125° C. to 200° C. for a time from 5 minutes to 12 hours. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the conductive polymer is Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT). 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the solvent is ethylene glycol with the additive amount of equal to or more than 3% by weight. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the annealing temperature is about 150° C. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the annealing time is at least equal to more than 30 minutes. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the method comprises a process of making the material contain water. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein a process of sealing the material is performed after the process of making the material contain water.