Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: Thermoelectric (TE) devices have emerged as one of the most promising new technologies for use as sensor module energy harvesters and as waste-heat recovery systems. Low-cost and large-area printed TE devices are suitable because heat sources are widely distributed through-out the environment. In addition, high reliability is also required of the TE materials because the devices are operated in high-temperature environments over long periods of time. In this study, we developed glass matrix TE composite materials that have a higher softening temperature than organic materials. Using low melting point vanadate glasses as the matrix materials, we fabricated n-type Bi2Te3— vanadate glass and p-type Bi0.3Sb1.7Te3—vanadate glass composites. The figure of merit (ZT) of both materials was approximately 0.2 at temperatures between 25 and 300°C. We also fabricated a pair of thermocouple devices using these vanadate glass composites with simple printing process, and an output voltage of 5 mV was obtained when the thermocouple pair was placed on a hot plate heated to 90°C.
Authors: Hideaki Takano, Chisaki Takubo, Kengo Asai, Yuichi Sawai, Tadashi Fujieda, Takashi Naito, Hideaki Kurata, Yasushi Goto
Institution: Hitachi (Japan)
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2322774399