Thermoelectric Modules: Key Issues in Architectural Design and Contact Optimization

Abstract

Interplay between the phonons and electrons makes thermoelectric engineering enigmatic.In recent years, substantial improvement in the performance of thermoelectric materials has drawn considerable attention in experimenting their prospective applications in the thermoelectric technology. It serves as a bond between the thermoelectric alloys/materials and the modules/devices and so needs to be meticulously planned, engineered and integrated to gratify the performance of the thermoelectric products either for cooling or power generation. Here, the principle of thermo-electricity has been discussed along with the different feasible architectures and synthesis methodologies. In addition, the review also discusses the role of contact engineering, as the reliability of the thermoelectric devices depends on the overall assemblage. Moreover, thermoelectric applications are limited to niche markets wherever the need of reliability surpasses the requirement of conversion efficiency. Thus, contact issues which includes thermomechanical stresses at the interface, bonding strength and resistance at the interface are also discussed.

A comprehensive review of entropy engineered GeTe: an antidote to phase transformation

“…The entire essence of thermoelectricity is having a high ZT thermoelectric material for the fabrication of efficient devices. 9,62 This involves development either of high temperature power generators or near room temperature refrigerators. The widely used materials for this niche application include silicides, 96–98 chalcogenides, 19–44,99–101 half-Heusler, 102,103 Zintls, 104,105 etc.…”

“…1,2 Innovative research conducted by the thermoelectric community in the last decade has improved the performance of thermoelectric devices significantly, which led to energy harvesting from natural and waste heat and thus provided an alternative solution to mitigate the energy crisis. 3–10 The conversion efficiency of a TE device is defined by the figure of merit ( ZT ) of the thermoelectric alloy given by where α implies the Seebeck coefficient, σ implies the electrical conductivity, and κ e and κ l are the electronic and lattice thermal conductivities, respectively, at temperature T . 11,12…”

“…1,2 Innovative research conducted by the thermoelectric community in the last decade has improved the performance of thermoelectric devices significantly, which led to energy harvesting from natural and waste heat and thus provided an alternative solution to mitigate the energy crisis. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] The conversion efficiency of a TE device is defined by the figure of merit (ZT) of the thermoelectric alloy given by ZT ¼…”