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Performance boost for bismuth telluride thermoelectric generator via barrier layer based on low Young’s modulus and particle sliding

Author

Listed:
  • Yuxin Sun

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Fengkai Guo

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Yan Feng

    (Northwestern Polytechnical University)

  • Chun Li

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Yongchun Zou

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Jinxuan Cheng

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Xingyan Dong

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Hao Wu

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Qian Zhang

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Weishu Liu

    (Southern University of Science and Technology)

  • Zihang Liu

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Wei Cai

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Zhifeng Ren

    (University of Houston)

  • Jiehe Sui

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

Abstract

The lack of desirable diffusion barrier layers currently prohibits the long-term stable service of bismuth telluride thermoelectric devices in low-grade waste heat recovery. Here we propose a new design principle of barrier layers beyond the thermal expansion matching criterion. A titanium barrier layer with loose structure is optimized, in which the low Young’s modulus and particle sliding synergistically alleviates interfacial stress, while the TiTe2 reactant enables metallurgical bonding and ohmic contact between the barrier layer and the thermoelectric material, leading to a desirable interface characterized by high-thermostability, high-strength, and low-resistivity. Highly competitive conversion efficiency of 6.2% and power density of 0.51 W cm−2 are achieved for a module with leg length of 2 mm at the hot-side temperature of 523 K, and no degradation is observed following operation for 360 h, a record for stable service at this temperature, paving the way for its application in low-grade waste heat recovery.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-43879-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43879-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pingjun Ying & Ran He & Jun Mao & Qihao Zhang & Heiko Reith & Jiehe Sui & Zhifeng Ren & Kornelius Nielsch & Gabi Schierning, 2021. "Towards tellurium-free thermoelectric modules for power generation from low-grade heat," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-6, December.
    2. Ruiheng Liu & Yunfei Xing & Jincheng Liao & Xugui Xia & Chao Wang & Chenxi Zhu & Fangfang Xu & Zhi-Gang Chen & Lidong Chen & Jian Huang & Shengqiang Bai, 2022. "Thermal-inert and ohmic-contact interface for high performance half-Heusler based thermoelectric generator," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    3. 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).
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