Work

Improving thermoelectric energy harvesting efficiency by using graphene

Year: 2016

Type: article

Abstract: This study is aimed at enhancing the efficiency of a thermoelectric (TE) energy harvesting system by using a thick graphene layer. This method is a simple yet effective way to increase the temperature gradient across a conventional TE module by accelerating heat dissipation on the cold side of the system. Aqueous dispersions of graphene were used to prepare a 112-μm thick graphene layer on the cold side of the TE system with aluminum as the substrate material. The maximum efficiency of the proposed system was improved by 25.45 %, as compared to the conventional TE system, which does not have a graphene layer. Additionally, the proposed system shows very little performance deterioration (2.87 %) in the absence of enough air flow on the cold side of the system, compared to the case of the conventional system (10.59 %). Hence, the proposed system, when coupled with the latest research on high performance TE materials, presents a groundbreaking improvement in the practical application of the TE energy harvesting systems.

Source: AIP Advances

DOI: 10.1063/1.4953237

Authors: Muhammad Usman, In-Ho Kim, Hyung-Jo Jung

Institutions: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, National University of Sciences and Technology

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Thermoelectric Materials and Devices

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,350