Conformable Thermoelectric Device for Waste Heat Scavenging in Space Applications

NASA space exploration missions stand to benefit from reliable means to conserve energy that is otherwise given off as waste heat. Thermoelectric generators have demonstrated the potential for scavenging waste heat energy, yet are still limited by technical and geometrical boundaries that must be overcome for long term reliability in applications such as interplanetary missions. To address these limitations, Nanohmics Inc. and Professor Kevin Stokes at the University of New Orleans propose to fabricate conformable thermoelectric generators for long-term radiation resistance in space applications. The proposed device will incorporate thermoelectric p- and n-doped high ZT thermoelectric legs that aredeposited onto a substrate.