Premium
High Power Density Thermoelectric Generators with Skutterudites
Author(s) -
El Oualid Soufiane,
Kogut Iurii,
Benyahia Mohamed,
Geczi Eugen,
Kruck Uwe,
Kosior Francis,
Masschelein Philippe,
Candolfi Christophe,
Dauscher Anne,
Koenig Jan Dieter,
Jacquot Alexandre,
Caillat Thierry,
Alleno Eric,
Lenoir Bertrand
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advanced energy materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.08
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1614-6840
pISSN - 1614-6832
DOI - 10.1002/aenm.202100580
Subject(s) - materials science , skutterudite , thermoelectric generator , thermoelectric effect , power density , thermoelectric materials , seebeck coefficient , volume (thermodynamics) , metal , work (physics) , composite material , power (physics) , maximum power principle , optoelectronics , mechanical engineering , thermal conductivity , thermodynamics , metallurgy , physics , engineering
Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) offer a versatile solution to convert low‐grade heat into useful electrical power. While reducing the length of the active thermoelectric legs provides an efficient strategy to increase the maximum output power density p max , both the high electrical contact resistances and thermomechanical stresses are two central issues that have so far prevented a strong reduction in the volume of thermoelectric materials integrated. Here, it is demonstrated that these barriers can be lifted by using a nonconventional architecture of the legs which involves inserting thick metallic layers. Using skutterudites as a proof‐of‐principle, several single‐couple and multi‐couple TEGs with skutterudite layers of only 1 mm are fabricated, yielding record p max ranging from 3.4 up to 7.6 W cm −2 under temperature differences varying between 450 and 630 K. The highest p max achieved corresponds to a 60‐fold increase per unit volume of skutterudites compared to 1 cm long legs. This work establishes thick metallic layers as a robust strategy through which high power density TEGs may be developed.