Enabling ultra-flexible inorganic thin-film-based thermoelectric devices by introducing nanoscale titanium layers

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56015-5
• Publication Date: 2025-01-14T03:48:54Z
• Authors: Ming Tan; Xiao-Lei Shi; Wei-Di Liu; Yong Jiang; Si-Qi Liu; Tianyi Cao; Wenyi Chen; Meng Li; Tong Lin; Yuan Deng; Shaomin Liu; Zhi-Gang Chen
• Keywords: Figure of Merit; Power density; Thermoelectric generator

Here, we design exotic interfaces within a flexible thermoelectric device, incorporating polyimide substrate, Ti contact layer, Cu electrode, barrier and thin film. The device features 162 pairs of thin-film legs with high room-temperature performance, using p-Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 n-Bi2Te2.7Se0.3, figure-of-merit values 1.39 1.44, respectively. 10 nm layer creates strong bond between the substrate while significantly reduces internal resistance enhances tightness films electrodes. This enables both exceptional flexibility an impressive power density 108 μW cm−2 under temperature difference just 5 K, normalized exceeding 4 K−2. When attached to 50 °C irregular heat source, three series-connected devices generate 1.85 V, powering light-emitting diode without need for additional sink or booster. authors introduce nanoscale titanium layers boost (p-Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3/n-Bi2Te2.7Se0.3), achieving >4 K−2 offering good flexibility.