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High performance of Bi2Te3-based thermoelectric generator owing to pressure in fabrication process

Author

Listed:
  • Xu, Haowei
  • Zhang, Qiang
  • Yi, Longbing
  • Huang, Shaolin
  • Yang, Hao
  • Li, Yanan
  • Guo, Zhe
  • Hu, Haoyang
  • Sun, Peng
  • Tan, Xiaojian
  • Liu, Guo-qiang
  • Song, Kun
  • Jiang, Jun

Abstract

A Bi2Te3-based thermoelectric generator (TEG) is known to be the leading technology in low-temperature heat energy recovery. In its fabricating process, the thermoelectric (TE) materials should be heated over the melting temperature of tin solder, but the unmatched thermal expansion between p-type and n-type TE materials will lead to considerable interfacial resistivity, resulting in the sharp decrease of the output power and conversion efficiency. Here, we introduce the pressure to suppress interfacial resistance of Bi2Te3-based TEGs. The theoretical model governing the pressure and interfacial resistivity is built based on the equations of thermal-electric-elastic coupling, and the explicit expressions for maximum output power and conversion efficiency are derived when considering interfacial resistivity. With the guidance of theoretical and simulation results, the average interfacial resistivity of 10 μΩ·cm2 is measured in a Bi2Te3-based TEG, while the conversion efficiency is increased by 44% from the commercial devices. Besides, the stress caused by suitable pressure force is less than the allowable stress of Bi2Te3-based TE materials. These findings provide strong support for the fabrication of high-performance TEGs.

Suggested Citation

  • Xu, Haowei & Zhang, Qiang & Yi, Longbing & Huang, Shaolin & Yang, Hao & Li, Yanan & Guo, Zhe & Hu, Haoyang & Sun, Peng & Tan, Xiaojian & Liu, Guo-qiang & Song, Kun & Jiang, Jun, 2022. "High performance of Bi2Te3-based thermoelectric generator owing to pressure in fabrication process," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 326(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:326:y:2022:i:c:s0306261922012168
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.119959
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Patil, Dipak S. & Arakerimath, Rachayya R. & Walke, Pramod V., 2018. "Thermoelectric materials and heat exchangers for power generation – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 1-22.
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    Cited by:

    1. Huang, Shaolin & Yang, Hao & Li, Yanan & Guo, Zhe & Zhang, Qiang & Cai, Jianfeng & Wu, Jiehua & Tan, Xiaojian & Liu, Guoqiang & Song, Kun & Jiang, Jun, 2023. "Optimizing GeTe-based thermoelectric generator for low-grade heat recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 349(C).
    2. Yang, Wenlong & Zhu, WenChao & Du, Banghua & Wang, Han & Xu, Lamei & Xie, Changjun & Shi, Ying, 2023. "Power generation of annular thermoelectric generator with silicone polymer thermal conductive oil applied in automotive waste heat recovery," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    3. Yuxin Sun & Fengkai Guo & Yan Feng & Chun Li & Yongchun Zou & Jinxuan Cheng & Xingyan Dong & Hao Wu & Qian Zhang & Weishu Liu & Zihang Liu & Wei Cai & Zhifeng Ren & Jiehe Sui, 2023. "Performance boost for bismuth telluride thermoelectric generator via barrier layer based on low Young’s modulus and particle sliding," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.

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