Strain‐Induced Rolled Thin Films for Lightweight Tubular Thermoelectric Generators

• DOI: 10.1002/admt.201700192
• Publication Date: 2017-11-24T12:32:41Z
• Authors: Devendra Singh; Arwa T. Kutbee; Mohamed T. Ghoneim; Aftab M. Hussain; Muhammad M. Hussain
• Keywords: Thermopile; Thermoelectric generator; Bismuth telluride; Slab

Abstract Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) are interesting energy harvesters of otherwise wasted heat. Here, a polymer‐assisted generic process and its mechanics to obtain sputtered thermoelectric (TE) telluride material‐based 3D tubular structures with unprecedented length (up seamless 4 cm further expandable) shown. This allows for large temperature differences between the hot cold ends, critical but untapped enabler high power generation. Compared flat slab, better area efficiency is observed rolled tube compared solid rod architecture, uses less material (thus making it lightweight cost effective) has competitive performance advantage due smaller contact area. It also shown that architecture thermopile‐based TEG able generate up 5 μW (eight pairs p‐ n‐type thermopiles) through difference 60 °C. The demonstrated can play an important role in transforming 2D atomic crystal structure TE materials into thermopiles effective application, which maintain higher by longer distances ends.