Low-Cost Thermoelectric Subsytem for Self-Powered Equipment

This SBIR Phase I project will address the technological risks in bringing silicon-based nanostructured thermoelectric materials from a proven laboratory concept to a scalable prototype device. Thermoelectric materials offer great promise in development of self-powered equipment for military use. They are compact, lightweight, highly reliable and virtually maintenance free. Implementation to date has been precluded by the high cost per watt and the low design temperature of existing thermoelectric materials Alphabet Energy’s silicon nanowire thermoelectric materials use low-grade silicon as a raw material and a manufacturing process that utilizes standard semiconductor fabrication tools and facilities. This leads to a device cost in the order of 20¢/Watt, 50-100 times cheaper than existing thermoelectrics. Silicon nanowire thermoelectric materials have been tested at temperatures up to 600C without degradation or loss of performance. As such much greater temperature gradients are possible, leading to power densities with existing performance materials of up to 17 kW/m2. Alphabet Energy’s SiNW thermoelectrics can provide a 100W of electric generation for a cost of as little as $16 at 10% efficiency. Furthermore we have an established development pathways to higher efficiencies of 20% or more, leading to a cost of only $8.