Power Generation in Slope-Type Thin-Film Thermoelectric Generators by the Simple Contact of a Heat Source

Abstract

To conveniently generate electric energy for next-generation smart network monitoring systems, we propose the design and fabrication of slope-type thin-film thermoelectric generators by the simple contact of a heat source. N-type Bi2Te3 films and p-type Sb2Te3 films were formed on a stainless-steel substrate employing potentiostatic electrodeposition using a nitric acid-based bath, followed by a transfer process. In order to naturally induce a temperature difference (ΔT) between the ends of the generator, slope blocks made by polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) were prepared and then inserted between the generators and heat sources. The performance of the generators, the open circuit voltage (Voc), and the maximum output power (Pmax), were measured using PDMS slope angles as the temperature of the heat source was increased. The ΔT of the generators increased as the slope angle was increased. The generator with the highest slope angle (28°) exhibited a Voc of 7.2 mV and Pmax of 18.3 μW at ΔT of 15 K for a heat source temperature of 42 °C. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of slope-type thin-film thermoelectric generators, which can be fabricated with a low manufacturing cost.

Experimental and Computational Analyses of Temperature Distributions in Slope-Type Thin-Film Thermoelectric Generators at Different Slope Angles and Evaluation of Their Thermoelectric Performance

“…In this study, we used the STTEGs that were fabricated in our previous study [42]. In brief, n-type Bi 2 Te 3 and p-type Sb 2 Te 3 thin films were prepared on a stainless-steel substrate using potentiostatic electrodeposition and a standard three-electrode cell.…”

“…The thickness of both types of the thin films is approximately 1 μm. The properties of the n-and p-type thin films and the STTEG are presented in Table 1 [42]. The second part is a slope block made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) using a three-dimensional printer (Figure 1b).…”

“…In our previous studies, we fabricated a slope-type thin-film generator (STTEG) [41], and temperature differences were produced in the STTEG by placing them on a lower thermal conductive material by tilting them towards a heat source [42]. To optimize the design of STTEGs with high performance, it is necessary to evaluate the temperature distribution in the STTEGs over a wide range of setting conditions.…”

Correction: Yamamuro et al. Power Generation in Slope-Type Thin-Film Thermoelectric Generators by the Simple Contact of a Heat Source. Coatings 2019, 9, 63

“…Revised image: In the original version of article [1], the y-axis units in Figure 6a,b were incorrect. The figure presenting the correct units is as follows.…”

Poly(3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene) Nanoparticles as Building Blocks for Hybrid Thermoelectric Flexible Films

“…Although there is no doubt about the interest of this kind of layered materials, the lack of studies on their thermoelectric properties highlights the need for more research to open the gate to a new generation of highly efficient organic thermoelectric materials.Additionally to the stated above, flexible thermoelectric materials have also attracted interest for their use in wearable devices, in which the body temperature can be used to obtain energy. When using inorganic materials, high power factor were obtained, for instance, for n-type and p-type Sb 2 Te 3 by electrochemical deposition (−80 and 100 µW m −1 K −2 , respectively) [20,21]. However, conducting polymers are much more flexible than inorganic materials and offer the possibility to produce highly flexible films for thermoelectric applications [22] in different substrates, such as paper with PEDOT:PSS [23,24] or polyimide with poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT)/CNT nanocomposites [25].In this work, we have prepared films from PEDOT nanoparticles, which embed single-wall (SWCNT), double-wall (DWCNT), and multiwall (MWCNT) carbon nanotubes.…”