High-performance and flexible thermoelectric films by screen printing solution-processed nanoplate crystals

Varghese, Tony; Hollar, Courtney; Richardson, Joseph; Kempf, Nicholas; Han, Chao; Gamarachchi, Pasindu; Estrada, David; Mehta, Rutvik J.; Zhang, Yanliang

doi:10.1038/srep33135

Title: High-performance and flexible thermoelectric films by screen printing solution-processed nanoplate crystals

Journal Article · Mon Sep 12 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Scientific Reports

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/srep33135· OSTI ID:1435601

Varghese, Tony ^[1]; Hollar, Courtney ^[1]; Richardson, Joseph ^[1]; Kempf, Nicholas ^[1]; Han, Chao ^[1]; Gamarachchi, Pasindu ^[1]; Estrada, David ^[1]; Mehta, Rutvik J. ^[2]; Zhang, Yanliang ^[1]

Boise State Univ., Boise, ID (United States)
ThermoAura Inc., Colonie, NY (United States)

Screen printing allows for direct conversion of thermoelectric nanocrystals into flexible energy harvesters and coolers. However, obtaining flexible thermoelectric materials with high figure of merit ZT through printing is an exacting challenge due to the difficulties to synthesize high-performance thermoelectric inks and the poor density and electrical conductivity of the printed films. Here, we demonstrate high-performance flexible films and devices by screen printing bismuth telluride based nanocrystal inks synthesized using a microwave-stimulated wet-chemical method. Thermoelectric films of several tens of microns thickness were screen printed onto a flexible polyimide substrate followed by cold compaction and sintering. The n-type films demonstrate a peak ZT of 0.43 along with superior flexibility, which is among the highest reported ZT values in flexible thermoelectric materials. A flexible thermoelectric device fabricated using the printed films produces a high power density of 4.1 mW/cm² with 60°C temperature difference between the hot side and cold side. In conclusion, the highly scalable and low cost process to fabricate flexible thermoelectric materials and devices demonstrated here opens up many opportunities to transform thermoelectric energy harvesting and cooling applications.

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Research Organization:: Boise State Univ., Boise, ID (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)

Grant/Contract Number:: NE0008255

OSTI ID:: 1435601

Journal Information:: Scientific Reports, Vol. 6, Issue 1; ISSN 2045-2322

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 122 works

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