Large-area implementation and critical evaluation of the material and fabrication aspects of a thin-film thermoelectric generator based on aluminum-doped zinc oxide

RENEWABLE ENERGY

卷:147

Article

Tappura, Kirsi¹  Juntunen, Taneli²  Jaakkola, Kaarle¹  Ruoho, Mikko²  Tittonen, Ilkka²  Ritasalo, Riina³  Pudas, Marko³ 

[1] VTT Tech Res Ctr Finland Ltd, FI-02044 Espoo, Finland

[2] Aalto Univ, Dept Elect & Nanoengn, POB 13500, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland

[3] Picosun Oy, Tietotie 3, Espoo 02150, Finland

关键词: Large-area thermoelectric generator;    Thin-film TEG;    Aluminum-doped zinc oxide;    Finite element method;    Atomic layer deposition;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.renene.2019.09.093

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

A large-area thermoelectric generator (TEG) utilizing a folded thin-film concept is implemented and the performance evaluated for near room temperature applications having modest temperature gradients (<50 K). The TEGs with the area of similar to 0.33 m(2) are shown capable of powering a wireless sensor node of multiple sensors suitable e.g. for monitoring environmental variables in buildings. The TEGs are based on a transparent, non-toxic and abundant thermoelectric material, i.e. aluminium-doped zinc oxide (AZO), deposited on flexible substrates. After folding, both the electrical current and heat flux are in the plane of the thermoelectric thin-film. Heat leakage in the folded TEG is shown to be minimal (close to that of air), enabling sufficient temperature gradients without efficient heat sinks, contrary to the conventional TEGs having the thermal flux and electrical current perpendicular to the plane of the thermoelectric films. The long-term stability studies reveal that there are no significant changes in the electrical or thermoelectric properties of AZO over several months, while the contact resistance between AZO and silver ink is an issue exhibiting a continuous increase over time. The performance of the TEGs and technological implications in relation to a state-of-the-art thermoelectric material are further assessed via a computational study. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

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