- Recent Advances in Thermoelectric Materials and Devices: Improving Power Generation Performance
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Momanyi Amos Okirigiti, Cheol Min Kim, Hyejeong Choi, Nagamalleswara Rao Alluri, Kwi-Il Park
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Received November 15, 2024 Accepted December 6, 2024 Published online December 16, 2024
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.4150/jpm.2024.00395
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 Abstract
- Thermoelectric materials have been the focus of extensive research interest in recent years due to their potential in clean power generation from waste heat. Their conversion efficiency is primarily reflected by the dimensionless figure of merit, with higher values indicating better performance. There is a pressing need to discover materials that increase output power and improve performance, from the material level to device fabrication. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent advancements, such as Bi2Te3-based nanostructures that reduce thermal conductivity while maintaining electrical conductivity, GeTe-based high entropy alloys that utilize multiple elements for improved thermoelectric properties, porous metal-organic frameworks offering tunable structures, and organic/hybrid films that present low-cost, flexible solutions. Innovations in thermoelectric generator designs, such as asymmetrical geometries, segmented modules, and flexible devices, have further contributed to increased efficiency and output power. Together, these developments are paving the way for more effective thermoelectric technologies in sustainable energy generation.
- Flexible Hybrid Energy Harvester based on Thermoelectric Composite Film and Electrospun Piezopolymer Membranes
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Hyomin Jeon, Cheol Min Kim, Hyeon Jun Park, Bitna Bae, Hyejeong Choi, HakSu Jang, Kwi-Il Park
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Received November 29, 2024 Accepted December 30, 2024 Published online February 12, 2025
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.4150/jpm.2024.00458
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Abstract
- A hybrid energy harvester that consisted of thermoelectric (TE) composite film and electrospun piezoelectric (PE) polymeric membranes was constructed. TE composites were fabricated by dispersing inorganic TE powders inside polyvinylidene fluoride elastomer using a drop-casting technique. The polyvinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene, which was chosen due to its excellent chemical resistance, mechanical stability, and biocompatibility, was electrospun onto an aluminum foil to fabricate the ultra-flexible PE membranes. To create a hybrid energy harvester that can simultaneously convert heat and mechanical energy resources into electricity, the TE composite films attached to the PE membrane were encapsulated with protective polydimethylsiloxane. The fabricated energy harvester converted the outputs with a maximum voltage of 4 V (PE performance) and current signals of 0.2 μA (TE performance) under periodical heat input and mechanical bending in hybrid modes. This study demonstrates the potential of the hybrid energy harvester for powering flexible and wearable electronics, offering a sustainable and reliable power source.
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