Thermoelectric Devices and Applications for the Same
This invention describes a process for sputter deposition of thin films of alloys of Bi2Te3, Sb2Te3 and Bi2Se3 for thermoelectric energy conversion. The approach allows deposition of these films on glass and flexible substrates such as Kapton. The process was used to deposit n-type and p-type films that exhibit properties nearly as good as measured for bulk materials. A single thermocouple was formed from n-type and p-type films that produced 3 millivolts under a temperature difference of 10 degrees centigrade. This result demonstrates that miniature high-voltage, microwatt power sources can be constructed from thin film arrays deposited as described by the disclosed process.
Jake Bohlke
Method and Apparatus for Smart Battery Charging
Unlike most electric loads, electric vehicles are mobile. Consequently, one cannot necessarily know that an electric vehicle will be configured safely for any of the charging stations at which it might try to charge. Limitations might be imposed by any of the components, including battery packs, power electronic chargers, premise plug and wiring infrastructure. Furthermore, preferences (and perhaps hard limits) will be imposed by the electric utility, which might insist, for example, that electric vehicles charge off peak, or by vehicle owners, each of whom might wish to assert preferences that will affect charging costs and convenience. This invention describes a fuzzy approach for accommodating such limits and preferences from numerous sources.
WE Culture
At PNNL, AI Is Accelerating the U.S. Bioeconomy
Predicting how organisms’ characteristics respond to not only their genes, but also their environments (a nascent field called predictive phenomics), is extraordinarily challenging. Researchers at PNNL are using AI to tackle that challenge.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSING IONS (NIH iEdison No. 0685901-13-0008)
The invention in general relates to methods of compressing an ion packet inside an IMS based device for achieving high IMS resolving power, while maintaining the peak resolution. When a relatively broad ion packet in gas phase, is subjected to a nonlinear potential profile with a decreasing electric drift field; the ions in the high field region move faster than the low field region resulting in peak bunching. While ions drift over a long drift section with a constant electric field of a mobility device, they separate out based on their mobilities. However, individual peaks also broaden due to diffusion. In the present method, by using non-constant electric fields (DC) the peak broadening can be overcome. Due to nonlinear potential profile, the ions in different regions move with different velocities. Therefore when applied suitably, these fields can be used to bunch together ions in a broad peak to a narrow packet. When the different mobilities are sufficiently separated, the bunching is applied locally; this processes will not negatively affect the time separation (resolution) characteristics. When applied to close mobilities or peaks not well separated, some loss in time resolution may occur. This method can be used in any general mobility device, but is particularly attractive in SLIM devices where ion transport is practically lossless, facilitates long drift lengths, provides sufficiently resolved peaks to be effectively bunched.
GMLC at DISTRIBUTECH International®
GMLC will be at DISTRIBUTECH International February 7-9. Stop by booth #5609 to learn about our goals, research, and collaboration opportunities.