Please give a lot of attention and participation from the members of the Mechanical Engineering department.

▣ Title: Freely Shapable and Elastic Thermoelectric Power Generators

▣ Speaker: 김정원 박사

▣ Affiliation: KIST

▣ Date: 2022. 11. 24.(Thu) 11:00

▣ Venue: 제4공학관 D508호 

▣ Host: 김우철 교수

▣ Abstract

The thermoelectric power generator is one of the unique technologies for converting waste heat to electricity. Among various thermoelectric materials, carbon-based composites using carbon nanotubes gained much interest because of their unique potential for thermoelectrics with low cost, processability, and mechanical and electrical properties. Thermoelectric devices with thin film structures have developed to ensure their electrical properties despite their difficulty in making temperature differences. The elastic and porous thermoelectric sponge was prepared using a solution process with carbon-based ink to enhance production. The thermal conductivity of the thermoelectric sponge is significantly reduced due to its high porosity. The porous thermoelectric sponge has high compressibility to demonstrate the improvement of power generation under pressure. The thermoelectric properties of the TE sponge were measured while compressive strain from 0 to 80% by easily controlling their density and porosity. The p- and n-TE sponges are applied to fabricate the vertical and compressible TE power generator with a series circuit. The maximum thermoelectric power of the 8-pair TE sponge generator is dramatically increased from 0.17 to 2.09 μW at 55 K temperature differences with compressive strain from 0 to 80%, respectively. These experimental results well follow output power prediction with strain driven by analytical analysis. The power output analysis with compressive strain materials has the potential to be applied to diverse applications by controlling their power or the thermoelectric properties according to usage.