Energy harvesting: Printed thermoelectric generators for power
generation

Date:
February 5, 2021
Source:
Karlsruher Institut fu"r Technologie (KIT)
Summary:
Thermoelectric generators, TEGs for short, convert ambient heat into
electrical power. They enable maintenance-free, environmentally
friendly, and autonomous power supply of the continuously growing
number of sensors and devices for the Internet of Things (IoT)
and recovery of waste heat.

Scientists have now developed three-dimensional component
architectures based on novel, printable thermoelectric materials.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Thermoelectric generators, TEGs for short, convert ambient heat into
electrical power. They enable maintenance-free, environmentally friendly,
and autonomous power supply of the continuously growing number of
sensors and devices for the Internet of Things (IoT) and recovery of
waste heat. Scientists of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have
now developed three-dimensional component architectures based on novel, printable thermoelectric materials. This might be a milestone on the
way towards use of inexpensive TEGs.


========================================================================== "Thermoelectric generators directly convert thermal into electrical
energy.

This technology enables operation of autonomous sensors for the Internet
of Things or in wearables, such as smart watches, fitness trackers,
or digital glasses without batteries," says Professor Uli Lemmer, Head
of the Light Technology Institute (LTI) of KIT. In addition, they might
be used for the recovery of waste heat in industry and heating systems
or in the geothermal energy sector.

New Printing Processes Thanks to Customized Inks "Conventional TEGs have
to be assembled from individual components using relatively complex manufacturing methods," Lemmer says. "To avoid this, we studied novel
printable materials and developed two innovative processes and inks based
on organic as well as on inorganic nanoparticles." These processes and
inks can be used to produce inexpensive, three-dimensional printed TEGs.

The first process uses screen printing to apply a 2D pattern onto
an ultrathin flexible substrate foil using thermoelectric printing
inks. Then, a generator having about the size of a sugar cube is folded by means of an origami technique. This method has been developed jointly by
KIT researchers, the Heidelberg Innovation Lab, and a spinoff of KIT. The second process consists in printing a 3D scaffold, to the surfaces of
which the thermoelectric ink is applied.

Cost Reduction by Printing Technologies Lemmer is convinced that scalable production processes, such as roll-to-roll screen printing or modern
additive manufacturing (3D printing) are key technologies. "The new
production processes not only enable inexpensive scalable production of
these TEGs. Printing technologies also allow the component to be adapted
to the applications. We are now working on commercializing the printed thermoelectrical system.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by
Karlsruher_Institut_fu"r_Technologie_(KIT). Note: Content may be edited
for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal References:
1. Andres Georg Ro"sch, Andre' Gall, Silas Aslan, Matthias Hecht,
Leonard
Franke, Md. Mofasser Mallick, Lara Penth, Daniel Bahro, Daniel
Friderich, Uli Lemmer. Fully printed origami thermoelectric
generators for energy- harvesting. npj Flexible Electronics, 2021;
5 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41528- 020-00098-1
2. Md Mofasser Mallick, Leonard Franke, Andres Georg Ro"sch,
Uli Lemmer.

Shape-Versatile 3D Thermoelectric Generators by Additive
Manufacturing.

ACS Energy Letters, 2020; 6 (1): 85 DOI:
10.1021/acsenergylett.0c02159 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/02/210205104222.htm

--- up 7 weeks, 3 days, 7 hours, 57 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1337:3/111)