a method is disclosed of constructing a composite material structure , comprised of an aerogel precursor foundation , which is then overlaid throughout its interior with an even and continuous thin layer film of doped thermoelectric semiconductor such that electrical current is transmitted as a quantum surface phenomena , while the cross - section for thermal conductivity is kept low , with the aerogel itself dissipating that thermal conductivity . in one preferred embodiment this is achieved using a modified successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction in the liquid phase .