Enhanced performance of dispenser printed MA n-type Bi₂Te₃ composite thermoelectric generators

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2012 Nov;4(11):6117-24. doi: 10.1021/am301759a. Epub 2012 Nov 15.

Abstract

This work presents performance advancements of dispenser printed composite thermoelectric materials and devices. Dispenser printed thick films allow for low-cost and scalable manufacturing of microscale energy harvesting devices. A maximum ZT value of 0.31 has been achieved for mechanically alloyed (MA) n-type Bi₂Te₃-epoxy composite films with 1 wt % Se cured at 350 °C. The enhancement of ZT is a result of increase in the electrical conductivity through the addition of Se, which ultimately lowers the sintering temperature (350 °C). A 62 single-leg thermoelectric generator (TEG) prototype with 5 mm ×700 μm × 120 μm printed element dimensions was fabricated on a custom designed polyimide substrate with thick metal contacts. The prototype device produced a power output of 25 μW at 0.23 mA current and 109 mV voltage for a temperature difference of 20 °C, which is sufficient for low power generation for autonomous microsystem applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bismuth / chemistry*
  • Electric Conductivity
  • Electric Power Supplies*
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Hot Temperature*
  • Miniaturization
  • Tellurium / chemistry*
  • Transducers*

Substances

  • Tellurium
  • Bismuth