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A Flexible Micro‐Thermoelectric Generator Sticker with Trapezoidal‐Shaped Legs for Large Temperature Gradient and High‐Power Density
Author(s) -
Park Ji Won,
Kim Choong Sun,
Choi Hyeongdo,
Kim Yong Jun,
Lee Gyu Soup,
Cho Byung Jin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced materials technologies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.184
H-Index - 42
ISSN - 2365-709X
DOI - 10.1002/admt.202000486
Subject(s) - thermoelectric generator , materials science , thermoelectric effect , temperature gradient , fabrication , power density , optoelectronics , thermoelectric materials , power (physics) , seebeck coefficient , generator (circuit theory) , thermal , thermoelectric cooling , composite material , mechanical engineering , thermal conductivity , thermodynamics , medicine , physics , alternative medicine , pathology , quantum mechanics , engineering
Micro‐thermoelectric generators (m‐TEGs) are considered one of the potential semi‐permanent power sources for portable self‐powered electronic devices. To supply a sufficient amount of power for applications, the m‐TEG needs high‐performance thermoelectric materials as well as a large temperature difference across the device. Here, an m‐TEG with a new device structure, fabricated with a thin polymer‐supporting layer and trapezoidal‐shaped thermoelectric legs is presented. The m‐TEG, in the form of a sticker, is also flexible and can be attached anywhere that requires power. An m‐TEG with a step height of 200 µm is fabricated by sputtering a (Bi, Te)‐based thermoelectric material, and the device structure is completed using various challenging device fabrication techniques. The thermoelectric legs in the resulting structure have a very small cross‐section area, which enables the m‐TEG to have a larger thermal resistance than the conventional structure. This allows creating a larger temperature gradient across the thermoelectric legs. The fabricated m‐TEG exhibits a temperature difference as large as 0.90 °C, and generates an excellent output power density of 14.37 nW cm −2 even under natural convection, when attached to a heat source of 48 °C.