Lai Huajun, Singh Saurabh, Peng Ying, Hirata Keisuke, Ryu Masahiro, Ang Artoni Kevin R, Miao Lei, Takeuchi Tsunehiro
Key Laboratory of Information Material, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Information Material, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin 541004, China.
Research Center for Smart Energy Technology, Toyota Technological Institute, Nagoya 468-8511, Japan.
ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2022 Aug 31;14(34):38642-38650. doi: 10.1021/acsami.2c06349. Epub 2022 Aug 17.
With the development of application of wireless sensor nodes (WSNs), the need for energy harvesting is rapidly increasing. In this study, we designed and fabricated a robust monolithic thermoelectric generator (TEG) using a simple, low-energy, and low-cost device fabrication process. Our monolithic device consists of AgSSe and BiSbTe as n-type and p-type legs, respectively, while the empty space between the legs was filled with highly dense, flexible, and thin AgS that serves as both an insulating spacer and a shock absorber, which potentially augments the robustness of preventing from damage from an external mechanical force. From the optimization of the device structure via finite element method (FEM) simulations, a three-pair device with dimensions of 12 mm × 10 mm × 10 mm was found to have a theoretical maximum power density of 8.2 mW cm at a of 50 K. For considering this inevitable contact resistance, experimental measurement and FEM simulation were combined for quantifying the junction resistance; a power density of 2.1 mW cm was established with the consideration of the contact resistance at the p-n junctions. Using these optimized structural parameters, a device was fabricated and was found to have a maximum power density of 2.02 mW cm at a of 50 K, which is in good agreement with our simulations. The results from our monolithic TEG show that despite the simple, low-energy, and low-cost device fabrication process, the power generation is still comparable to other reported TEGs. It is worth mentioning that our design could be extended to other chalcogenide materials of appropriate temperature regions and/or better . Besides, the quantification of contact resistance also exhibited reference value for the enhancement of thermoelectric conversion application. These results provide a convenient, economic, and efficient strategy for waste energy harvesting close to room temperature, which can broaden the applications of waste heat harvesting.
随着无线传感器节点（WSNs）应用的发展，对能量收集的需求正在迅速增加。在本研究中，我们采用简单、低能耗且低成本的器件制造工艺，设计并制造了一种坚固的单片式热电发电机（TEG）。我们的单片式器件分别由AgSSe和BiSbTe作为n型和p型腿，而腿之间的空隙填充了高密度、柔性且薄的AgS，其既作为绝缘间隔层又作为减震器，这有可能增强防止外部机械力损坏的坚固性。通过有限元方法（FEM）模拟对器件结构进行优化，发现尺寸为12 mm×10 mm×10 mm的三对器件在温差为50 K时理论最大功率密度为8.2 mW/cm²。为考虑这种不可避免的接触电阻，将实验测量和FEM模拟相结合来量化结电阻；考虑到p - n结处的接触电阻，确定了功率密度为2.1 mW/cm²。利用这些优化的结构参数制造了一个器件，发现在温差为50 K时最大功率密度为2.02 mW/cm²，这与我们的模拟结果非常吻合。我们单片式TEG的结果表明，尽管器件制造工艺简单、低能耗且低成本，但发电量仍与其他报道的TEG相当。值得一提的是，我们的设计可以扩展到其他适用于适当温度区域和/或具有更好性能的硫族化物材料。此外，接触电阻的量化对于增强热电转换应用也具有参考价值。这些结果为接近室温的废能收集提供了一种方便、经济且高效的策略，这可以拓宽废热收集的应用范围。
