Printing thermoelectric inks toward next-generation energy and thermal devices

Abstract

This review provides a framework for printing thermoelectric materials and devices by discussing recent progress in thermoelectric ink chemistry and formulations, printing methods, flexible/conformable device designs, and energy/thermal applications.

Solution-Processed Inorganic Thermoelectric Materials: Opportunities and Challenges

“…Solution processing has the potential to reduce the cost of thermoelectric devices by employing cheaper fabrication techniques. Additive manufacturing (3D printing) techniques can decrease the production cost and allow movement away from the planar geometry of conventional thermoelectric devices. ,− However, to produce 3D-printed thermoelectric devices, it is necessary to develop thermoelectric materials in the form of an ink with very specific rheological properties that enable a proper flow for particle deposition yet maintain the structural integrity of the printed pattern . Rheological properties are tightly related to particle characteristics such as size, size distribution, and surface chemistry. , Therefore, using solution-processed NPs with well-curated properties can be the key to establishing this technology for thermoelectrics; as we described above, there are plenty of possibilities for controlling particle properties and their surface chemistry.…”

“…Additive manufacturing (3D printing) techniques can decrease the production cost and allow movement away from the planar geometry of conventional thermoelectric devices. 112 , 136 − 138 However, to produce 3D-printed thermoelectric devices, it is necessary to develop thermoelectric materials in the form of an ink with very specific rheological properties that enable a proper flow for particle deposition yet maintain the structural integrity of the printed pattern. 139 Rheological properties are tightly related to particle characteristics such as size, size distribution, and surface chemistry.…”

Effects of cation size on thermoelectricity of PEDOT:PSS/ionic liquid hybrid films for wearable thermoelectric generator application

“…Moreover, the diverse morphologies and structures of the conducting polymers can be easily tuned through many approaches, such as chain alignment, nanostructuring, and doping, to manipulate their charge transport as well as thermoelectric characteristics. 17–24…”

“…Moreover, the diverse morphologies and structures of the conducting polymers can be easily tuned through many approaches, such as chain alignment, nanostructuring, and doping, to manipulate their charge transport as well as thermoelectric characteristics. [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] Within these conjugated polymer systems, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), with its enhanced solubility from the aqueous dispersion of soluble polymeric counterions, has gained attention as a state-of-the-art thermoelectric polymer and is currently the best-performing conjugated polymer. [25][26][27][28][29][30][31] To date, strategies that can improve the overall thermoelectric properties of a PEDOT:PSS lm determined by using the power factor have been studied.…”

A hierarchical thermal interface material based on a double self-assembly technique enables efficient output power via solar thermoelectric conversion

“…To explain it further, when a thermal conductive material is directly attached to the TE device, the resulting interfacial thermal resistance (ITR) between the matting surfaces is nonnegligible because the interfacial micro-gaps are filled with nonflowing air with extremely low thermal conductivity (≈0.026 W m −1 K −1 ). 14 Furthermore, when the TE device is inversely applied as the semiconductor cooler on the basis of the Peltier effect, 15 a high-performance TIM with flexible property is also required since the generated joule heat needs to be dissipated efficiently into the heat sink. Therefore, TIM, which behaves efficiently and has multidirectional thermo-conductive properties plays a significant role in the thermal management system.…”