Roll-to-roll manufacture of flexible thin-film thermoelectric generators using flexography with vacuum vapour deposition

Tao, Xudong; Stuart, Bryan W.; Assender, Hazel E.

doi:10.1016/j.surfcoat.2022.128826

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…CVD involves the formation of thin film materials by chemically reacting the reaction gas, which is then deposited on the surface of the substrate. Vacuum deposition technology can prepare thin and uniform high-quality films [7]. Laser scribing technology includes using a laser to selectively remove thin film materials from the substrate.…”

Section: Production and Generation Technologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Current status and prospects of flexible solar cells

Xie

2023

ACE

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With the increasing global demand for clean energy, solar cells, as a renewable and pollution-free clean energy source, have attracted much attention. In the past, solar cells have always used rigid materials as substrates. However, this rigid solar panel is not only bulky and limited in layout, but also susceptible to external impact and damage, which is not conducive to its application in various scenarios. Flexible solar cells, developed from rigid solar cells, have the advantages of light weight, small size, high safety, and strong adaptability, gradually becoming the development trend of solar cells. The research and development of flexible solar cells benefit from the rapid development of materials. In recent years, the emergence of various new materials and preparation technologies, such as carbon fibers, polymers, organic materials, and nanostructures, has provided a better foundation for the preparation of flexible batteries. At the same time, flexible batteries can also be processed through printing, spraying and other processing methods, improving manufacturing efficiency. In addition, the demand for wearable devices, smart homes and other emerging scenarios in society has also accelerated the research and application of flexible solar cells, providing broad application prospects for their development. However, its cost is usually higher than that of rigid solar cells, and market regulation under new categories requires time to adapt. The development of flexible solar cells is benign, but it requires the market to test its standardization.

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Section: Production and Generation Technologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Current status and prospects of flexible solar cells

Xie

2023

ACE

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“…For ink preparation, the solution‐based wet chemistry method is one of the promising synthesis routes as it helps improve the surface chemistry of the ink. [ 158 ] Appreciable results from TE inks [ 159,160 ] and printed devices [ 161–166 ] prepared with different compositions and different recipes have been reported in recent times, but extensive research on the same is needed to overcome the difficulties. Some of the widely used dopants like Te, though they helps to improve TE properties, are very harmful to the environment.…”

Section: Challenges and Future Roadmapmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For ink preparation, the solution-based wet chemistry method is one of the promising synthesis routes as it helps improve the surface chemistry of the ink. [158] Appreciable results from TE inks [159,160] and printed devices [161][162][163][164][165][166] prepared with different compositions and different recipes have been reported in recent times, but extensive research on the same is needed to overcome [76] (reproduced with permission, copyright 2012, ACS publication). b) TE cooling device made of Bi 0.5 Sb 1.5 Te 3 /epoxy thick films, and c) The temperature difference achieved as a function of time with different applied currents [152] (reproduced with permission, copyright 2018, Elsevier).…”

Section: Challenges and Future Roadmapmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inorganic‐Based Printed Thermoelectric Materials and Devices

et al. 2022

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One of the simplest ways to generate electric power from waste heat is thermoelectric (TE) energy conversion. So far, most of the research on thermoelectrics has focused on inorganic bulk TE materials and their device applications. However, high production costs per power output and limited shape conformity hinder applications of state‐of‐the‐art thermoelectric devices (TEDs). In recent years, printed thermoelectrics has emerged as an exciting pathway for their potential in the production of low‐cost shape‐conformable TEDs. Although several inorganic bulk TE materials with high performance are successfully developed, achieving high performance in inorganic‐based printed TE materials is still a challenge. Nevertheless, significant progress has been made in printed thermoelectrics in recent years. In this review article, it is started with an introduction signifying the importance of printed thermoelectrics followed by a discussion of theoretical concepts of thermoelectricity, from fundamental transport phenomena to device efficiency. Afterward, the general process of inorganic TE ink formulation is summarized, and the current development of the inorganic and hybrid inks with the mention of their TE properties and their influencing factors is elaborated. In the end, TEDs with different architecture and geometries are highlighted by documenting their performance and fabrication techniques.

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“…[27][28][29][30] Thinfilm TE materials have attracted widespread attention since the performance of TE materials can be modified using nanostructure engineering, [31] by decoupling the TE parameters shown in Equation (1). By further integrating the vacuum deposition with a flexographic printing technique, [32][33][34] patterning of flexible thin-film materials can be achieved at a μm resolution in the plane.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exceptional Performance of Room Temperature Sputtered Flexible Thermoelectric Thin Film Using High Target Utilisation Sputtering Technique

Tao,

Dutson,

Zeng

et al. 2024

Adv Materials Technologies

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The High Target Utilisation Sputtering technique (HiTUS) is of interest for industrial processes, including in roll‐to‐roll manufacturing. This study marks the first application of HiTUS to thermoelectric materials, exemplified by bismuth telluride. The HiTUS technique separates the sputtering power into the plasma power and the target power, with additional kinetic energy in the sputtering particles from the applied electrical field, thus enabling a much wider sputter parameter space to modify the film performance. This study investigates how plasma power, target power, and substrate bias in HiTUS intricately influence crystal orientation/size, elemental composition, surface morphology, and other film properties. These factors subsequently affect carrier density/mobility, and consequently the thermoelectric performance of the bismuth telluride film. These deposited films reach a power factor of 6.5 × 10−4 W m−1 K−2 with a figure of merit ≈0.14 at room temperature, the highest value for room‐temperature sputtered un‐doped bismuth telluride. Subsequent post‐deposition annealing significantly enhances the crystallinity of the film (highly polycrystalline), further improving the power factor to 23.5 × 10−4 W m−1 K‐2, with a figure of merit ≈0.45 at room temperature. The excellent performance of the HiTUS fabricated thermoelectric film opens opportunities for the large‐area manufacture of thin‐film thermoelectric materials and devices.

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Roll-to-roll manufacture of flexible thin-film thermoelectric generators using flexography with vacuum vapour deposition

Cited by 6 publications

References 42 publications

Current status and prospects of flexible solar cells

Current status and prospects of flexible solar cells

Inorganic‐Based Printed Thermoelectric Materials and Devices

Exceptional Performance of Room Temperature Sputtered Flexible Thermoelectric Thin Film Using High Target Utilisation Sputtering Technique

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