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Large-area and adaptable electrospun silicon-based thermoelectric nanomaterials with high energy conversion efficiencies

Author

Listed:
  • Alex Morata

    (Department of Advanced Materials for Energy)

  • Mercè Pacios

    (Department of Advanced Materials for Energy)

  • Gerard Gadea

    (Department of Advanced Materials for Energy)

  • Cristina Flox

    (Department of Advanced Materials for Energy)

  • Doris Cadavid

    (Department of Advanced Materials for Energy
    Departamento de Física)

  • Andreu Cabot

    (Department of Advanced Materials for Energy
    ICREA)

  • Albert Tarancón

    (Department of Advanced Materials for Energy
    ICREA)

Abstract

Large amounts of waste heat generated in our fossil-fuel based economy can be converted into useful electric power by using thermoelectric generators. However, the low-efficiency, scarcity, high-cost and poor production scalability of conventional thermoelectric materials are hindering their mass deployment. Nanoengineering has proven to be an excellent approach for enhancing thermoelectric properties of abundant and cheap materials such as silicon. Nevertheless, the implementation of these nanostructures is still a major challenge especially for covering the large areas required for massive waste heat recovery. Here we present a family of nano-enabled materials in the form of large-area paper-like fabrics made of nanotubes as a cost-effective and scalable solution for thermoelectric generation. A case study of a fabric of p-type silicon nanotubes was developed showing a five-fold improvement of the thermoelectric figure of merit. Outstanding power densities above 100 W/m2 at 700 °C are therefore demonstrated opening a market for waste heat recovery.

Suggested Citation

  • Alex Morata & Mercè Pacios & Gerard Gadea & Cristina Flox & Doris Cadavid & Andreu Cabot & Albert Tarancón, 2018. "Large-area and adaptable electrospun silicon-based thermoelectric nanomaterials with high energy conversion efficiencies," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-07208-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07208-8
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    Cited by:

    1. Tappura, Kirsi & Juntunen, Taneli & Jaakkola, Kaarle & Ruoho, Mikko & Tittonen, Ilkka & Ritasalo, Riina & Pudas, Marko, 2020. "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, Elsevier, vol. 147(P1), pages 1292-1298.
    2. Sargolzaeiaval, Yasaman & Padmanabhan Ramesh, Viswanath & Neumann, Taylor V. & Misra, Veena & Vashaee, Daryoosh & Dickey, Michael D. & Öztürk, Mehmet C., 2020. "Flexible thermoelectric generators for body heat harvesting – Enhanced device performance using high thermal conductivity elastomer encapsulation on liquid metal interconnects," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).

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