THERMOELECTRIC NANOCOMPOSITE, METHOD FOR MAKING THE NANOCOMPOSITE AND APPLICATION OF THE NANOCOMPOSITE

This invention relates to a thermoelectric nanocomposite, a method for making the thermoelectric nanocomposite and an application of the nanocomposite. The invention provides a thermoelectric nanocomposite comprising: a plurality of homogeneous ceramic nanoparticles with at least one kind of tellurium compound; the ceramic nanoparticles comprise an average particle size selected from a range of about 5 nm to about 30 nm and particularly to about 10 nm; the ceramic nanoparticles are coated with a particle coating in each case; the particle coating comprises at least one layer with nanostructured, substantially intact carbon material. Additionally, the invention is directed to a method for making a thermoelectric nanocomposite, the nanocomposite comprising: a plurality of homogeneous ceramic nanoparticles with at least one kind of tellurium compound; the homogeneous ceramic nanoparticles comprise an average particle size selected from a range of about 5 nm to about 30 nm and particularly to about 10 nm; the homogeneous ceramic nanoparticles are coated with a particle coating in each case; the particle coating comprises at least one layer with nanostructured, substantially intact carbon material, the method comprising: providing a precursor powder of a plurality of homogeneous ceramic nanoparticles with at least one kind of a tellurium compound having an average particle size selected from a range of about 5 nm to about 30 nm and particularly to about 10 nm, wherein the homogeneous ceramic nanoparticles comprise a precursor coating with nanostructured, substantially intact carbon material in each case, and heat treatment of the precursor powder such, that the nanocomposite is generated by conversion of the precursor coating into to the particle coating. The nanocomposite shows excellent thermoelectric properties and is used in a component for a heat-to-power system. La présente invention concerne un nanocomposite thermoélectrique, un procédé de fabrication du nanocomposite thermoélectrique et une application du nanocomposite. L'invention concerne un nanocomposite thermoélectrique qui comprend : plusieurs nanoparticules céramiques homogènes qui présentent au moins un type de composé de tellurium, la taille moyenne des nanoparticules de céramique étant sélectionnée dans une plage d'environ 5 nm à environ 30 nm et en particulier à environ 10 nm, les nanoparticules de céramique étant dotées d'un revêtement particulaire qui comprend au moins une couche de matériau