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 15791-15797Subject Categories
Other Materials Engineering
Other Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering
Areas of Advance
Materials Science
DOI
10.1021/acsami.7b04752