Ninesigma announced on Feb. 25, 2004 a call for proposals to demonstrate nano-particle manufacturing techniques suitable industrial quantities of bulk thermoelectric materials. According to their website (with all the details, including the full RFP and Abstract template)

http://www.ninesigma.com/mx/30337-07-10a/rfp.html

Abstracts are due March 26, 2004.

Ninesigma is representing Delphi Corporation and believes a ZT=2 PbTe-based material could provide TE cooling systems competitive with current vehicle air conditioners. They anticipate "annual volume could reach 1000 tons/year over the next 10 years.".

So, boot up your word processor and send Ninesigma an abstract. That is, if you have a background in TE. That's one of the things they are looking for.

If you have any comments on this effort that you wish to share, please post them to the ZTforum on ths website.

First person to estimate how many cars can be cooled by 1000 tons of ZT=2 material (each year) gets an honorable mention and a free subscription to ZTspam. (OK, ZTspam is free anyway. And I won't mention you if you don't want me to).