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High-Performance and Flexible Thermoelectric Films by Screen Printing Solution-Processed Nanoplate Crystals
Scientific Reports
  • Tony Varghese, Boise State University
  • Courtney Hollar, Boise State University
  • Joseph Richardson, Boise State University
  • Nicholas Kempf, Boise State University
  • Chao Han, Boise State University
  • Pasindu Gamarachchi, Boise State University
  • David Estrada, Boise State University
  • Yanliang Zhang, Boise State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-12-2016
Abstract

Screen printing allows for direct conversion of thermoelectric nanocrystals into flexible energy harvesters and coolers. However, obtaining flexible thermoelectric materials with high figure of merit ZT through printing is an exacting challenge due to the difficulties to synthesize high-performance thermoelectric inks and the poor density and electrical conductivity of the printed films. Here, we demonstrate high-performance flexible films and devices by screen printing bismuth telluride based nanocrystal inks synthesized using a microwave-stimulated wet-chemical method. Thermoelectric films of several tens of microns thickness were screen printed onto a flexible polyimide substrate followed by cold compaction and sintering. The n-type films demonstrate a peak ZT of 0.43 along with superior flexibility, which is among the highest reported ZT values in flexible thermoelectric materials. A flexible thermoelectric device fabricated using the printed films produces a high power density of 4.1 mW/cm2 with 60°C temperature difference between the hot side and cold side. The highly scalable and low cost process to fabricate flexible thermoelectric materials and devices demonstrated here opens up many opportunities to transform thermoelectric energy harvesting and cooling applications.

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Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Citation Information
Varghese, Tony; Hollar, Courtney; Richardson, Joseph; Kempf, Nicholas; Han, Chao; Gamarachchi, Pasindu; Estrada, David; and Zhang, Yanliang. (2016). "High-Performance and Flexible Thermoelectric Films by Screen Printing Solution-Processed Nanoplate Crystals". Scientific Reports, 6, 33135-1 - 33135-6. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep33135