Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12)
Flexible Thermoelectric Materials for Green Energy Production Flexible Thermoelectric Materials for Green Energy Production S. C. Perry a , J. White a , S. Arumugam b , P. Kumar c , K. Hippalgaonkar c , S. Beeby b , I. Nandhakumar a a. Department of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. b. School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. c. Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Singapore 138634. The global energy crisis requires a unified effort to find new energy solutions outside of fossil fuels. It is therefore surprising that statistical results suggest as much as 60% of energy generated is wasted, mostly in the form of heat. 1 The ability to capture wasted energy and convert it back into stored electrical energy is therefore a vital step to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and provide energy security to intermittent green energy sources like solar and wind. S. C. Perry* a , J. Whitea, S. Arumugam b , P. Kumarc, K. Hippalgaonkar c , S. Beeby b , I. Nandhakumara a Department of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK b School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK c Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Singapore The global energy crisis requires a unified effort to find new energy solutions outside of fossil fuels. It is therefore surprising that statistical results suggest as much as 60% of energy generated is wasted, mostly in the form of heat. 1 The ability to capture wasted energy and convert it back into stored electrical energy is therefore a vital step to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and provide energy security to intermittent green energy sources like solar and wind. Thermoelectric materials offer a promising solution to this challenge, where a thermal gradient drives charge carriers across a material, resulting in a current flow. Thermoelectric generators are small, reliable and do not have moving parts, making them ideal for deployment in isolated or developing areas where power generation is needed without regular maintenance. Unfortunately, current efficiencies for these materials are still lacking for widescale applications. An exciting new development is the production of hybrid thermoelectric materials, combining inorganic nanowires with conducting polymers to give a thermoelectric performance greater than the sum of its parts. 2 Careful design can produce generators that are highly flexible, opening applications for wearable devices and Internet of Things applications, medical sensors and implantable healthcare decives. 3 We have advanced this field by performing a complete optimisation of the inorganic and organic components of hybrid thermoelectric materials. We investigated multiple routes to high performance tellurium nanowires, including a never-before demonstrated approach to electroless deposition. 4-5 We also demonstrated a novel fabrication of conducting organic polymers, producing intricate nanostructures with high conductivity. 6 Finally, we parameterised the connection between the two components to give enhanced dispersion and interaction, enhancing the overall power output. Our developments are a sizeable contribution to making thermoelectric power generation viable for real world applications. In this way, we will enable the implementation of carbon- free power generation for small scale healthcare applications and energy capture on a larger scale to decarbonise the energy grid with one single technology. Thermoelectric materials offer a promising solution to this challenge, where a thermal gradient drives charge carriers across a material, resulting in a current flow. Thermoelectric generators are small, reliable and do not have moving parts, making them ideal for deployment in isolated or developing areas where power generation is needed without regular maintenance. Unfortunately, current efficiencies for these materials are still lacking for widescale applications. An exciting new development is the production of hybrid thermoelectric materials, combining inorganic nanowires with conducting polymers to give a thermoelectric performance greater than the sum of its parts. 2 Careful design can produce generators that are highly flexible, opening applications for wearable devices and Internet of Things applications, medical sensors and implantable healthcare decives. 3 We have advanced this field by performing a complete optimisation of the inorganic and organic components of hybrid thermoelectric materials. We investigated multiple routes to high performance tellurium nanowires, including a never-before demonstrated approach to electroless deposition. 4-5 We also demonstrated a novel fabrication of conducting organic polymers, producing intricate nanostructures with high conductivity. 6 Finally, we parameterised the connection between the two components to give enhanced dispersion and interaction, enhancing the overall power output. Our developments are a sizeable contribution to making thermoelectric power generation viable for real world applications. In this way, we will enable the implementation of carbon-free power generation for small scale healthcare applications and energy capture on a larger scale to decarbonise the energy grid with one single technology.
Figure 1. Left) Nanostructured poly(3-hexylthiophene) Centre) Flexible power generation device Right) Tellurium nanowires grown by electroless deposition References Figure 1. Left) Nanostructured poly(3-hexylthiophene) Centre) Flexible power generation device Right) Tellurium nanowires grown by electroless deposition
1. X. Zhang, L.-D. Zhao; J. Materiomics, 2015, 1, 92. 2. Y. Zheng et al.; Mater. Chem. Front., 2017, 1, 2457. 3. A. Amin et al. ; J. Phys. Energy, 2022, 4 024003. 4. S. C. Perry et al.; Electrochim. Acta., 2023, 439, 141674. 5. S. C. Perry et al.; RSC Adv., 2022, 12, 35938. 6. S. C. Perry et al. ; J Electroanal. Chem., 2023, accepted 1. X. Zhang, L.-D. Zhao; J. Materiomics , 2015 , 1 , 92. 2. Y. Zheng et al. ; Mater. Chem. Front., 2017 , 1 , 2457. 3. A. Amin et al . ; J. Phys. Energy , 2022 , 4 024003. 4. S. C. Perry et al .; Electrochim. Acta. , 2023 , 439 , 141674. 5. S. C. Perry et al .; RSC Adv. , 2022 , 12 , 35938. 6. S. C. Perry et al. ; J Electroanal. Chem. , 2023 , accepted
P15
© The Author(s), 2023
Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog