Device optimization and large-scale roll-to-roll manufacturability of flexible thin-film thermoelectric generators
The optimization of flexible thin-film thermoelectric generators (TEGs) suitable for large-area roll-to-roll (R2R) processing is investigated. The selection of suitable contact materials, in-line patterning of connections, and dimension of the thermoelectric (TE) strip are studied. As a result, copp...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021
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| _version_ | 1826262647065018368 |
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| author | Tao, X Zhang, K Gregory, D Liu, J Assender, H |
| author_facet | Tao, X Zhang, K Gregory, D Liu, J Assender, H |
| author_sort | Tao, X |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | The optimization of flexible thin-film thermoelectric generators (TEGs) suitable for large-area roll-to-roll (R2R) processing is investigated. The selection of suitable contact materials, in-line patterning of connections, and dimension of the thermoelectric (TE) strip are studied. As a result, copper is selected for contacts because it possesses a similar performance to gold while being cheaper. Both in-series- and in-parallel-connected devices are found to work well and provide a voltage-dominant and current-dominant power source, respectively. The Seebeck coefficient and internal resistance of a device are extracted from the fit line to the measured power data. The in-parallel-connected TEG has a much smaller internal resistance and is thus suitable for wearable/portable devices with a small load resistance. A shorter and wider TE strip generates more power. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that experimentally proves a downward trend of power output with increasing strip length. In addition, an industrially feasible/continuous process is proposed for large-scale manufacture of flexible TEGs, by R2R sputtering TE materials on polymer webs, inkjet printing contacts, and segmenting using a laser. A segmented configuration is able to relieve internal strains in the device, while subjected to bending (e.g., within a wristband) to retain performance.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-06T19:39:21Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:20216897-cb11-4f79-bc9d-10a2d0255277 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-06T19:39:21Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:20216897-cb11-4f79-bc9d-10a2d02552772022-03-26T11:25:52ZDevice optimization and large-scale roll-to-roll manufacturability of flexible thin-film thermoelectric generatorsJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:20216897-cb11-4f79-bc9d-10a2d0255277EnglishSymplectic ElementsWiley2021Tao, XZhang, KGregory, DLiu, JAssender, HThe optimization of flexible thin-film thermoelectric generators (TEGs) suitable for large-area roll-to-roll (R2R) processing is investigated. The selection of suitable contact materials, in-line patterning of connections, and dimension of the thermoelectric (TE) strip are studied. As a result, copper is selected for contacts because it possesses a similar performance to gold while being cheaper. Both in-series- and in-parallel-connected devices are found to work well and provide a voltage-dominant and current-dominant power source, respectively. The Seebeck coefficient and internal resistance of a device are extracted from the fit line to the measured power data. The in-parallel-connected TEG has a much smaller internal resistance and is thus suitable for wearable/portable devices with a small load resistance. A shorter and wider TE strip generates more power. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that experimentally proves a downward trend of power output with increasing strip length. In addition, an industrially feasible/continuous process is proposed for large-scale manufacture of flexible TEGs, by R2R sputtering TE materials on polymer webs, inkjet printing contacts, and segmenting using a laser. A segmented configuration is able to relieve internal strains in the device, while subjected to bending (e.g., within a wristband) to retain performance. |
| spellingShingle | Tao, X Zhang, K Gregory, D Liu, J Assender, H Device optimization and large-scale roll-to-roll manufacturability of flexible thin-film thermoelectric generators |
| title | Device optimization and large-scale roll-to-roll manufacturability of flexible thin-film thermoelectric generators |
| title_full | Device optimization and large-scale roll-to-roll manufacturability of flexible thin-film thermoelectric generators |
| title_fullStr | Device optimization and large-scale roll-to-roll manufacturability of flexible thin-film thermoelectric generators |
| title_full_unstemmed | Device optimization and large-scale roll-to-roll manufacturability of flexible thin-film thermoelectric generators |
| title_short | Device optimization and large-scale roll-to-roll manufacturability of flexible thin-film thermoelectric generators |
| title_sort | device optimization and large scale roll to roll manufacturability of flexible thin film thermoelectric generators |
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