Stretchable Thermoelectric Generators Metallized with Liquid Alloy
Journal article, 2017

Conventional thermoelectric generators (TEGs) are normally hard, rigid, and flat. However, most objects have curvy surfaces, which require soft and even stretchable TEGs for maximizing efficiency of thermal energy harvesting. Here, soft and stretchable TEGs using conventional rigid Bi2Te3 pellets metallized with a liquid alloy is reported. The fabrication is implemented by means of a tailored layer-by-layer fabrication process. The STEGs exhibit an output power density of 40.6 ?W/cm2 at room temperature. The STEGs are operational after being mechanically stretched-and-released more than 1000 times, thanks to the compliant contact between the liquid alloy interconnects and the rigid pellets. The demonstrated interconnect scheme will provide a new route to the development of soft and stretchable energy-harvesting avenues for a variety of emerging electronic applications.

stretchability

elastomer packaging

liquid alloy

flexibility

interconnect

thermoelectric generator

contact resistance

Author

Seung Hee Jeong

Uppsala University

Francisco Javier Cruz

Uppsala University

Si Chen

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Electronics Material and Systems

L. Gravier

University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland

Johan Liu

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Electronics Material and Systems

Zhigang Wu

Uppsala University

Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Klas H Hjort

Uppsala University

Shi Li Zhang

Uppsala University

Zhi Bin Zhang

Uppsala University

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

1944-8244 (ISSN) 1944-8252 (eISSN)

Vol. 9 18 15791-15797

Subject Categories

Other Materials Engineering

Other Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering

Areas of Advance

Materials Science

DOI

10.1021/acsami.7b04752

More information

Latest update

9/21/2018