High‐Performance Micro‐Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator with Large‐Scale Integration of Multilayer Annular Arrays through Screen Printing and Stacking Coupling

Small distributed scientific monitoring equipment is an advanced concept in deep space exploration that requires a special power system. A micro‐radioisotope thermoelectric (TE) generator has the advantages of being of small volume, lightweight, and having a long life, which is regarded as the first choice. An annular radial TE conversion structure integrating 30 TE legs in 8.8 cm 3 is designed, and a satisfactory temperature difference of 188.4 K is demonstrated. The p‐type Sb 2 Te 3 and n‐type Bi 2 Te 2.7 Se 0.3 TE thick films are prepared by screen printing, and Seebeck coefficients are 142.4 and −179.8 μV K −2 , respectively. By serial–parallel stacking, modular single‐layer devices are effectively integrated on a large scale. The 900 TE legs are integrated into 15.86 cm 3 , which can provide a high voltage output of up to 13.2 V. When an electric heating source that simulates 3 PuO 2 is loaded, an open circuit voltage of 3.84 V and a maximum power of 1.26 mW can be obtained. As a demonstration, a prototype to drive a wireless sensor network is used. In the future, this kind of independent power source is expected to become a help for small autonomous and distributed scientific instruments.