Showing papers on "Thermoelectric effect published in 2016"
TL;DR: A record high ZTdev ∼1.34, with ZT ranging from 0.7 to 2.0 at 300 to 773 kelvin, realized in hole-doped tin selenide (SnSe) crystals, arises from the ultrahigh power factor, which comes from a high electrical conductivity and a strongly enhanced Seebeck coefficient enabled by the contribution of multiple electronic valence bands present in SnSe.
Abstract: Thermoelectric technology, harvesting electric power directly from heat, is a promising environmentally friendly means of energy savings and power generation. The thermoelectric efficiency is determined by the device dimensionless figure of merit ZT(dev), and optimizing this efficiency requires maximizing ZT values over a broad temperature range. Here, we report a record high ZT(dev) ∼1.34, with ZT ranging from 0.7 to 2.0 at 300 to 773 kelvin, realized in hole-doped tin selenide (SnSe) crystals. The exceptional performance arises from the ultrahigh power factor, which comes from a high electrical conductivity and a strongly enhanced Seebeck coefficient enabled by the contribution of multiple electronic valence bands present in SnSe. SnSe is a robust thermoelectric candidate for energy conversion applications in the low and moderate temperature range.
1,542 citations
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03 Mar 2016
TL;DR: In this article, the theory of thermoelectric and related phenomena is presented in sufficient detail to enable researchers to understand their observations and develop improved thermoeellectric materials and methods for the selection of materials and their improvement are discussed.
Abstract: Introduction to Thermoelectricity is the latest work by Professor Julian Goldsmid drawing on his 55 years experience in the field. The theory of the thermoelectric and related phenomena is presented in sufficient detail to enable researchers to understand their observations and develop improved thermoelectric materials. The methods for the selection of materials and their improvement are discussed. Thermoelectric materials for use in refrigeration and electrical generation are reviewed. Experimental techniques for the measurement of properties and for the production of thermoelements are described. Special emphasis is placed on nanotechnology which promises to yield great improvements in the efficiency of thermoelectric devices. Chapters are also devoted to transverse thermoelectric effects and thermionic energy conversion, both techniques offering the promise of important applications in the future. (orig.)
961 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss recent breakthroughs for organic materials with high thermoelectric figures of merit and indicate how these materials may be incorporated into new module designs that take advantage of their mechanical properties.
Abstract: Conjugated polymers and related processing techniques have been developed for organic electronic devices ranging from lightweight photovoltaics to flexible displays. These breakthroughs have recently been used to create organic thermoelectric materials, which have potential for wearable heating and cooling devices, and near-room-temperature energy generation. So far, the best thermoelectric materials have been inorganic compounds (such as Bi2Te3) that have relatively low Earth abundance and are fabricated through highly complex vacuum processing routes. Molecular materials and hybrid organic–inorganic materials now demonstrate figures of merit approaching those of these inorganic materials, while also exhibiting unique transport behaviours that are suggestive of optimization pathways and device geometries that were not previously possible. In this Review, we discuss recent breakthroughs for organic materials with high thermoelectric figures of merit and indicate how these materials may be incorporated into new module designs that take advantage of their mechanical and thermoelectric properties. Thermoelectrics can be used to harvest energy and control temperature. Organic semiconducting materials have thermoelectric performance comparable to many inorganic materials near room temperature. Better understanding of their performance will provide a pathway to new types of conformal thermoelectric modules.
860 citations
TL;DR: An overview of how symmetry and bonding strength affect electron and phonon transport in solids, and how altering these properties may be used in strategies to improve thermoelectric performance is provided.
Abstract: The coupled transport properties required to create an efficient thermoelectric material necessitates a thorough understanding of the relationship between the chemistry and physics in a solid. We approach thermoelectric material design using the chemical intuition provided by molecular orbital diagrams, tight binding theory, and a classic understanding of bond strength. Concepts such as electronegativity, band width, orbital overlap, bond energy, and bond length are used to explain trends in electronic properties such as the magnitude and temperature dependence of band gap, carrier effective mass, and band degeneracy and convergence. The lattice thermal conductivity is discussed in relation to the crystal structure and bond strength, with emphasis on the importance of bond length. We provide an overview of how symmetry and bonding strength affect electron and phonon transport in solids, and how altering these properties may be used in strategies to improve thermoelectric performance.
601 citations
01 Jan 2016
TL;DR: In this paper, the theory of thermoelectric and related phenomena is presented in sufficient detail to enable researchers to understand their observations and develop improved thermoeellectric materials and methods for the selection of materials and their improvement are discussed.
Abstract: Introduction to Thermoelectricity is the latest work by Professor Julian Goldsmid drawing on his 55 years experience in the field. The theory of the thermoelectric and related phenomena is presented in sufficient detail to enable researchers to understand their observations and develop improved thermoelectric materials. The methods for the selection of materials and their improvement are discussed. Thermoelectric materials for use in refrigeration and electrical generation are reviewed. Experimental techniques for the measurement of properties and for the production of thermoelements are described. Special emphasis is placed on nanotechnology which promises to yield great improvements in the efficiency of thermoelectric devices. Chapters are also devoted to transverse thermoelectric effects and thermionic energy conversion, both techniques offering the promise of important applications in the future. (orig.)
597 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the physical and chemical properties of various thermoelectric materials are reviewed and strategies for improving the performance of materials are proposed, along with an insight into semiconductor physics.
499 citations
TL;DR: Thermoelectric plastics are a class of polymer-based materials that combine the ability to directly convert heat to electricity, and vice versa, with ease of processing.
Abstract: Thermoelectric plastics are a class of polymer-based materials that combine the ability to directly convert heat to electricity, and vice versa, with ease of processing. Potential applications include waste heat recovery, spot cooling and miniature power sources for autonomous electronics. Recent progress has led to surging interest in organic thermoelectrics. This tutorial review discusses the current trends in the field with regard to the four main building blocks of thermoelectric plastics: (1) organic semiconductors and in particular conjugated polymers, (2) dopants and counterions, (3) insulating polymers, and (4) conductive fillers. The design and synthesis of conjugated polymers that promise to show good thermoelectric properties are explored, followed by an overview of relevant structure-property relationships. Doping of conjugated polymers is discussed and its interplay with processing as well as structure formation is elucidated. The use of insulating polymers as binders or matrices is proposed, which permit the adjustment of the rheological and mechanical properties of a thermoelectric plastic. Then, nanocomposites of conductive fillers such as carbon nanotubes, graphene and inorganic nanowires in a polymer matrix are introduced. A case study examines poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) based materials, which up to now have shown the most promising thermoelectric performance. Finally, a discussion of the advantages provided by bulk architectures e.g. for wearable applications highlights the unique advantages that thermoelectric plastics promise to offer.
407 citations
26 Feb 2016
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide a summary of achievements made in recent studies of thermoelectric transport properties, and demonstrate how they have led to improvements in thermal performance by the integration of modern theory and experiment.
Abstract: During the last two decades, we have witnessed great progress in research on thermoelectrics. There are two primary focuses. One is the fundamental understanding of electrical and thermal transport, enabled by the interplay of theory and experiment; the other is the substantial enhancement of the performance of various thermoelectric materials, through synergistic optimisation of those intercorrelated transport parameters. Here we review some of the successful strategies for tuning electrical and thermal transport. For electrical transport, we start from the classical but still very active strategy of tuning band degeneracy (or band convergence), then discuss the engineering of carrier scattering, and finally address the concept of conduction channels and conductive networks that emerge in complex thermoelectric materials. For thermal transport, we summarise the approaches for studying thermal transport based on phonon–phonon interactions valid for conventional solids, as well as some quantitative efforts for nanostructures. We also discuss the thermal transport in complex materials with chemical-bond hierarchy, in which a portion of the atoms (or subunits) are weakly bonded to the rest of the structure, leading to an intrinsic manifestation of part-crystalline part-liquid state at elevated temperatures. In this review, we provide a summary of achievements made in recent studies of thermoelectric transport properties, and demonstrate how they have led to improvements in thermoelectric performance by the integration of modern theory and experiment, and point out some challenges and possible directions.
386 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors summarise the recent progress in bulk thermoelectric (TE) materials and summarize the recently achieved enhancements in the TE performance encompassing the use of electronic band structure engineering, lattice phon...
Abstract: Thermoelectric (TE) materials facilitate direct heat-to-electricity conversion. The performance of a TE material is characterised by its figure of merit zT (=S2 σT/κ) that depends on both electronic transport properties, i.e. the Seebeck coefficient S and the electrical conductivity σ, and on thermal transport properties, i.e. the thermal conductivity κ of a material. The intrinsically counter-correlated behaviour between electronic and thermal transport properties makes the enhancement of zT a very challenging task. In the past 10 years, the zTs in bulk TE materials have been significantly enhanced due to intensive exploratory efforts, the discovery of new physical phenomena and effects, and applications of advanced synthesis methods. In this review, we summarise the recent progress in bulk TE materials. After the introduction of fundamental principles of thermoelectricity, the recently achieved enhancements in the TE performance encompassing the use of electronic band structure engineering, lattice phon...
380 citations
TL;DR: The average value of the figure of merit ZT, of more than 1.17, is measured from 300 K to 800 K along the crystallographic b-axis of 3 at% Na-doped SnSe, with the maximum ZT reaching a value of 2 at 800 K as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Excellent thermoelectric performance is obtained over a broad temperature range from 300 K to 800 K by doping single crystals of SnSe. The average value of the figure of merit ZT, of more than 1.17, is measured from 300 K to 800 K along the crystallographic b-axis of 3 at% Na-doped SnSe, with the maximum ZT reaching a value of 2 at 800 K. The room temperature value of the power factor for the same sample and in the same direction is 2.8 mW mK−2, which is an order of magnitude higher than that of the undoped crystal. Calculations show that Na doping lowers the Fermi level and increases the number of carrier pockets in SnSe, leading to a collaborative optimization of the Seebeck coefficient and the electrical conductivity. The resultant optimized carrier concentration and the increased number of carrier pockets near the Fermi level in Na-doped samples are believed to be the key factors behind the spectacular enhancement of the average ZT.
372 citations
TL;DR: Thermoelectric performance in the layered Zintl phase n-type Mg3+δ (Sb,Bi)2 is reported and insertion of the excess Mg into the compounds is crucial for realizing n- type carrier transport with multivalley and isotropic character.
Abstract: Thermoelectric performance in the layered Zintl phase n-type Mg3+δ (Sb,Bi)2 is reported. Insertion of the excess Mg into the compounds is crucial for realizing n-type carrier transport with multivalley and isotropic character. An excellent ZT of 1.51 ± 0.06 at 716 K is achieved in the sintered polycrystals at the composition of Mg3.2 Sb1.5 Bi0.49 Te0.01 .
TL;DR: Here it is shown that a simple elemental semiconductor, tellurium, exhibits a high thermoelectric figure of merit of unity, not only demonstrating the concept but also filling up the high performance gap from 300 to 700 K for elemental thermoeLECTrics.
Abstract: Good thermoelectric materials are often complex compounds. Here, the authors reveal that elemental tellurium has a high thermoelectric figure of merit between 300 and 700 K when doped with As, with the potential advantages of easy preparation and relative isotropy.
TL;DR: N- type SnSe single crystals were successfully synthesized by substituting Bi at Sn sites and it was found that the carrier concentration increases with Bi content, which has a great influence on the thermoelectric properties of n-type Sn Se single crystals.
Abstract: Recently SnSe, a layered chalcogenide material, has attracted a great deal of attention for its excellent p-type thermoelectric property showing a remarkable ZT value of 2.6 at 923 K. For thermoelectric device applications, it is necessary to have n-type materials with comparable ZT value. Here, we report that n-type SnSe single crystals were successfully synthesized by substituting Bi at Sn sites. In addition, it was found that the carrier concentration increases with Bi content, which has a great influence on the thermoelectric properties of n-type SnSe single crystals. Indeed, we achieved the maximum ZT value of 2.2 along b axis at 733 K in the most highly doped n-type SnSe with a carrier density of −2.1 × 1019 cm−3 at 773 K. The good thermoelectric figures of merit of p-type tin selenide single crystals are actively studied. Here, the authors show that n-type SnSe can also reach a figure of merit of around 2, at high temperatures, when doped with bismuth.
TL;DR: Using the Te-PEDOT:PSS hybrid composites, a flexible thermoelectric generator that could be embedded in textiles was fabricated by a printing process and generates a thermoeLECTric voltage of 2 mV using human body heat.
Abstract: The thermoelectric properties of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and tellurium-PEDOT:PSS (Te-PEDOT:PSS) hybrid composites were enhanced via simple chemical treatment. The performance of thermoelectric materials is determined by their electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and Seebeck coefficient. Significant enhancement of the electrical conductivity of PEDOT:PSS and Te-PEDOT:PSS hybrid composites from 787.99 and 11.01 to 4839.92 and 334.68 S cm−1, respectively was achieved by simple chemical treatment with H2SO4. The power factor of the developed materials could be effectively tuned over a very wide range depending on the concentration of the H2SO4 solution used in the chemical treatment. The power factors of the developed thermoelectric materials were optimized to 51.85 and 284 μW m−1 K−2, respectively, which represent an increase of four orders of magnitude relative to the corresponding parameters of the untreated thermoelectric materials. Using the Te-PEDOT:PSS hybrid composites, a flexible thermoelectric generator that could be embedded in textiles was fabricated by a printing process. This thermoelectric array generates a thermoelectric voltage of 2 mV using human body heat.
TL;DR: It is presented a convincing case that intrinsic point defects can be actively controlled by extrinsic doping and also via compositional, mechanical, and thermal control at various stages of material synthesis.
Abstract: Defects and defect engineering are at the core of many regimes of material research, including the field of thermoelectric study. The 60-year history of V2VI3 thermoelectric materials is a prime example of how a class of semiconductor material, considered mature several times, can be rejuvenated by better understanding and manipulation of defects. This review aims to provide a systematic account of the underexplored intrinsic point defects in V2VI3 compounds, with regard to (i) their formation and control, and (ii) their interplay with other types of defects towards higher thermoelectric performance. We herein present a convincing case that intrinsic point defects can be actively controlled by extrinsic doping and also via compositional, mechanical, and thermal control at various stages of material synthesis. An up-to-date understanding of intrinsic point defects in V2VI3 compounds is summarized in a (χ, r)-model and applied to elucidating the donor-like effect. These new insights not only enable more innovative defect engineering in other thermoelectric materials but also, in a broad context, contribute to rational defect design in advanced functional materials at large.
TL;DR: This work systematically investigated the thermoelectric properties of polycrystalline SnSe doped with three alkali metals (Li, Na, and K) and found that Na has the best doping efficiency.
Abstract: Recent findings about ultrahigh thermoelectric performance in SnSe single crystals have stimulated related research on this simple binary compound, which is focused mostly on its polycrystalline counterparts, and particularly on electrical property enhancement by effective doping. This work systematically investigated the thermoelectric properties of polycrystalline SnSe doped with three alkali metals (Li, Na, and K). It is found that Na has the best doping efficiency, leading to an increase in hole concentration from 3.2 × 10(17) to 4.4 × 10(19) cm(-3) at room temperature, accompanied by a drop in Seebeck coefficient from 480 to 142 μV/K. An equivalent single parabolic band model was found adequate to capture the variation tendency of Seebeck coefficient with doping levels within a wide range. A mixed scattering of carriers by acoustic phonons and grain boundaries is suitable for numerically understanding the temperature-dependence of carrier mobility. A maximum ZT of ∼0.8 was achieved in 1% Na- or K-doped SnSe at 800 K. Possible strategies to improve the mobility and ZT of polycrystals were also proposed.
TL;DR: In this article, the ionic thermoelectric supercapacitor (ITESC) is charged under a temperature gradient, and the stored electrical energy can be delivered to an external circuit.
Abstract: Temperature gradients are generated by the sun and a vast array of technologies and can induce molecular concentration gradients in solutions via thermodiffusion (Soret effect). For ions, this leads to a thermovoltage that is determined by the thermal gradient ΔT across the electrolyte, together with the ionic Seebeck coefficient αi. So far, redox-free electrolytes have been poorly explored in thermoelectric applications due to a lack of strategies to harvest the energy from the Soret effect. Here, we report the conversion of heat into stored charge via a remarkably strong ionic Soret effect in a polymeric electrolyte (Seebeck coefficients as high as αi = 10 mV K−1). The ionic thermoelectric supercapacitor (ITESC) is charged under a temperature gradient. After the temperature gradient is removed, the stored electrical energy can be delivered to an external circuit. This new means to harvest energy is particularly suitable for intermittent heat sources like the sun. We show that the stored electrical energy of the ITESC is proportional to (ΔTαi)2. The resulting ITESC can convert and store several thousand times more energy compared with a traditional thermoelectric generator connected in series with a supercapacitor.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors demonstrate the use of high performance nanostructured PbTe-based materials in high conversion efficiency thermoelectric modules and demonstrate the maximum conversion efficiency of ∼8.8% for a temperature difference (ΔT) of 570 K and ∼11% for an ΔT of 590 K.
Abstract: In this work, we demonstrate the use of high performance nanostructured PbTe-based materials in high conversion efficiency thermoelectric modules. We fabricated the samples of PbTe–2% MgTe doped with 4% Na and PbTe doped with 0.2% PbI2 with high thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) and sintered them with Co–Fe diffusion barriers for use as p- and n-type thermoelectric legs, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy of the PbTe legs reveals two shapes of nanostructures, disk-like and spherical. The reduction in lattice thermal conductivity through nanostructuring gives a ZT of ∼1.8 at 810 K for p-type PbTe and ∼1.4 at 750 K for n-type PbTe. Nanostructured PbTe-based module and segmented-leg module using Bi2Te3 and nanostructured PbTe were fabricated and tested with hot-side temperatures up to 873 K in a vacuum. The maximum conversion efficiency of ∼8.8% for a temperature difference (ΔT) of 570 K and ∼11% for a ΔT of 590 K have been demonstrated in the nanostructured PbTe-based module and segmented Bi2Te3/nanostructured PbTe module, respectively. Three-dimensional finite-element simulations predict that the maximum conversion efficiency of the nanostructured PbTe-based module and segmented Bi2Te3/nanostructured PbTe module reaches 12.2% for a ΔT of 570 K and 15.6% for a ΔT of 590 K respectively, which could be achieved if the electrical and thermal contact between the nanostructured PbTe legs and Cu interconnecting electrodes is further improved.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors reported a solar thermoelectric generator with an efficiency of 9.6% at an optically concentrated normal solar irradiance of 211'kW'm−2 and a system efficiency of 7.4% after considering optical concentration losses.
Abstract: Concentrating solar power normally employs mechanical heat engines and is thus only used in large-scale power plants; however, it is compatible with inexpensive thermal storage, enabling electricity dispatchability. Concentrating solar thermoelectric generators (STEGs) have the advantage of replacing the mechanical power block with a solid-state heat engine based on the Seebeck effect, simplifying the system. The highest reported efficiency of STEGs so far is 5.2%. Here, we report experimental measurements of STEGs with a peak efficiency of 9.6% at an optically concentrated normal solar irradiance of 211 kW m−2, and a system efficiency of 7.4% after considering optical concentration losses. The performance improvement is achieved by the use of segmented thermoelectric legs, a high-temperature spectrally selective solar absorber enabling stable vacuum operation with absorber temperatures up to 600 ∘C, and combining optical and thermal concentration. Our work suggests that concentrating STEGs have the potential to become a promising alternative solar energy technology. Solar thermoelectric generators are a promising technology for converting solar energy into electricity, however their efficiency has been limited to 5.2%. Kraemer et al. report a solar thermoelectric generator with an efficiency of 9.6%, resulting in 7.4% efficiency in a concentrating solar thermoelectric system.
TL;DR: Agarwal et al. as mentioned in this paper report carbon nanotube-based materials with selected properties that exhibit enhanced thermoelectric performance, which are low-cost, versatile alternatives to more established inorganic ones.
Abstract: Organic thermoelectric materials are emerging as low-cost, versatile alternatives to more established inorganic ones. Avery et al. report carbon nanotube-based materials with selected properties that exhibit enhanced thermoelectric performance.
TL;DR: In this paper, a flexible thermoelectric (TE) power generator for harvesting energy from the human body has attracted significant interest in recent years, however, a wearable TE power generator based on commercially available fabrics has not been realized.
TL;DR: enhanced thermoelectric performance in SnTe, where significantly improved electrical transport properties and reduced thermal conductivity were achieved simultaneously are reported, suggesting that SnTe is a robust candidate for medium-temperature thermoelectedric applications.
Abstract: We report enhanced thermoelectric performance in SnTe, where significantly improved electrical transport properties and reduced thermal conductivity were achieved simultaneously. The former was obtained from a larger hole Seebeck coefficient through Fermi level tuning by optimizing the carrier concentration with Ga, In, Bi, and Sb dopants, resulting in a power factor of 21 μW cm(-1) K(-2) and ZT of 0.9 at 823 K in Sn(0.97)Bi(0.03)Te. To reduce the lattice thermal conductivity without deteriorating the hole carrier mobility in Sn(0.97)Bi(0.03)Te, SrTe was chosen as the second phase to create strained endotaxial nanostructures as phonon scattering centers. As a result, the lattice thermal conductivity decreases strongly from ∼2.0 Wm(-1) K(-1) for Sn(0.97)Bi(0.03)Te to ∼1.2 Wm(-1) K(-1) as the SrTe content is increased from 0 to 5.0% at room temperature and from ∼1.1 to ∼0.70 Wm(-1) K(-1) at 823 K. For the Sn(0.97)Bi(0.03)Te-3% SrTe sample, this leads to a ZT of 1.2 at 823 K and a high average ZT (for SnTe) of 0.7 in the temperature range of 300-823 K, suggesting that SnTe is a robust candidate for medium-temperature thermoelectric applications.
TL;DR: In this article, a review summarizes recent developments and progress in the research of binary metal sulfides, particularly for Bi2S3, Cu2−xS and PbS, and promising strategies are suggested to further enhance the thermoelectric figure of merit of these materials.
TL;DR: In this paper, a paintable/printable thermoelectric material, comprised exclusively of organic components, polyaniline (PANi), graphene, and double-walled nanotube (DWNT) are alternately deposited from aqueous solutions using the layer-by-layer assembly technique.
Abstract: In an effort to create a paintable/printable thermoelectric material, comprised exclusively of organic components, polyaniline (PANi), graphene, and double-walled nanotube (DWNT) are alternately deposited from aqueous solutions using the layer-by-layer assembly technique. Graphene and DWNT are stabilized with an intrinsically conductive polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). An 80 quadlayer thin film (≈1 μm thick), comprised of a PANi/graphene-PEDOT:PSS/PANi/DWNT-PEDOT:PSS repeating sequence, exhibits unprecedented electrical conductivity (σ ≈ 1.9 × 105 S m−1) and Seebeck coefficient (S ≈ 120 μV K−1) for a completely organic material. These two values yield a thermoelectric power factor (PF = S 2 σ −1) of 2710 μW m−1 K−2, which is the highest value ever reported for a completely organic material and among the highest for any material measured at room temperature. These outstanding properties are attributed to the highly ordered structure in the multilayer assembly. This water-based thermoelectric nanocomposite is competitive with the best inorganic semiconductors (e.g., bismuth telluride) at room temperature and can be applied as a coating to any flexible surface (e.g., fibers in clothing). For the first time, there is a real opportunity to harness waste heat from unconventional sources, such as body heat, to power devices in an environmentally-friendly way.
TL;DR: In this paper, an extremely low lattice thermal conductivity of 0.5 W m−1 K−1 was achieved in SnTe-Cu2Te solid solutions, which is actually approaching the amorphous limit of SnTe.
Abstract: Due to point defect phonon scattering, formation of solid solutions has long been considered as an effective approach for enhancing thermoelectric performance through reducing the lattice thermal conductivity. The scattering of phonons by point defects mainly comes from the mass and strain fluctuations between the guest and the host atoms. Both the fluctuations can be maximized by point defects of interstitial atoms and/or vacancies in a crystal. Here, a demonstration of phonon scattering by interstitial Cu atoms is shown, leading to an extremely low lattice thermal conductivity of 0.5 W m−1 K−1 in SnTe-Cu2Te solid solutions. This is the lowest lattice thermal conductivity reported in SnTe-based materials so far, which is actually approaching the amorphous limit of SnTe. As a result, a peak thermoelectric figure of merit, zT, higher than 1 is achieved in Sn0.94Cu0.12Te at 850 K, without relying on other approaches for electrical performance enhancements. The strategy used here is believed to be equally applicable in thermoelectrics with interstitial point defects.
TL;DR: In this paper, the main progresses and achievements in copper-based thermoelectric materials are summarized, and the challenges for commercial applications by using these Cu-based materials are discussed.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide experimental evidence and theoretical understanding that alloying SnTe with Ca greatly improves the transport properties leading to ZT of 1.35 at 873 K, the highest ZT value reported for singly doped SnTe materials.
Abstract: Pure lead-free SnTe has limited thermoelectric potentials because of the low Seebeck coefficients and the relatively large thermal conductivity. In this study, we provide experimental evidence and theoretical understanding that alloying SnTe with Ca greatly improves the transport properties leading to ZT of 1.35 at 873 K, the highest ZT value so far reported for singly doped SnTe materials. The introduction of Ca (0–9%) in SnTe induces multiple effects: (1) Ca replaces Sn and reduces the hole concentration due to Sn vacancies, (2) the energy gap increases, limiting the bipolar transport, (3) several bands with larger effective masses become active in transport, and (4) the lattice thermal conductivity is reduced by about 70% due to the contribution of concomitant scattering terms associated with the alloy disorder and the presence of nanoscale precipitates. An efficiency of ∼10% (for ΔT = 400 K) was predicted for high-temperature thermoelectric power generation using SnTe-based p- and n-type materials.
TL;DR: A simple and versatile bottom–up strategy based on the assembly of colloidal nanocrystals to produce consolidated yet nanostructured thermoelectric materials that exhibit reduced thermal conductivities and higher charge carrier concentrations and mobilities than PbS nanomaterial is presented.
Abstract: The efficient conversion between thermal and electrical energy by means of durable, silent and scalable solid-state thermoelectric devices has been a long standing goal. While nanocrystalline materials have already led to substantially higher thermoelectric efficiencies, further improvements are expected to arise from precise chemical engineering of nanoscale building blocks and interfaces. Here we present a simple and versatile bottom-up strategy based on the assembly of colloidal nanocrystals to produce consolidated yet nanostructured thermoelectric materials. In the case study on the PbS-Ag system, Ag nanodomains not only contribute to block phonon propagation, but also provide electrons to the PbS host semiconductor and reduce the PbS intergrain energy barriers for charge transport. Thus, PbS-Ag nanocomposites exhibit reduced thermal conductivities and higher charge carrier concentrations and mobilities than PbS nanomaterial. Such improvements of the material transport properties provide thermoelectric figures of merit up to 1.7 at 850 K.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors demonstrate an intrinsically highly foldable and stretchable thermoelectric generator that is based upon chemically exfoliated 1T-transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) nanosheets (NSs) for self-powered wearable electronics.
Abstract: To utilize human heat energy as a permanent power source, we demonstrate, for the first time, an intrinsically highly foldable and stretchable thermoelectric generator that is based upon chemically exfoliated 1T-transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) nanosheets (NSs) for self-powered wearable electronics. The power factors of WS2 (n-type) and NbSe2 (p-type) NS films were evaluated to be 5–7 μ K−2 m−1 and 26–34 μW K−2 m−1, respectively, near room temperature. With these films, parallel-connected thermoelectric generators that were fabricated were able to constantly produce up to 38 nW of output power at Δ60 K. The thermoelectric device stably sustained its performance, even after 100 bending cycles and after 100 stretching cycles (50% strain). By direct observation, we found that the film is highly stretched by partial tearing and folding but still maintains an electrical percolation pathway. The morphology then is quickly recovered by a plug-in contact between the torn parts as the external strain is released. Finally, we demonstrate the electric power generation from a prototype wearable thermoelectric generator that was woven into a wristband fitted on a real human body.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present an overview on the various aspects of device development i.e. from synthesis of high ZT thermoelectric materials to issues & design aspects of the TEG.