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High Power Factor Ag/Ag2Se Composite Films for Flexible Thermoelectric Generators
1Shanghai Key Laboratory of Development and Application for Metal-Functional Materials, Key Laboratory of Advanced Civil Engineering Materials, Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Tongji University, 4800 Caoan Road, Shanghai 201804, China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|March 19, 2021
Summary
Flexible Ag/Ag2Se composite films were developed for thermoelectric applications. These films exhibit high power factors and excellent mechanical stability, enabling efficient energy conversion in wearable devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Energy Conversion
Background:
- Thermoelectric materials convert waste heat into electricity.
- Developing flexible thermoelectric materials is crucial for wearable electronics and energy harvesting.
- Existing flexible thermoelectric materials often compromise on performance or durability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate a flexible Ag/Ag2Se composite film with enhanced thermoelectric properties.
- To investigate the mechanical flexibility and electrical performance of the composite film.
- To evaluate the potential of the material in a thermoelectric prototype device.
Main Methods:
- Wet chemical synthesis of Ag nanoparticles and Ag2Se nanostructures.
- Vacuum-assisted filtration of composite powders onto a nylon membrane.
- Hot pressing to form the composite film.
- Characterization of thermoelectric properties (power factor, conductivity) and mechanical bending tests.
Main Results:
- Achieved a high power factor of 1860.6 μW m-1 K-2 and electrical conductivity of 3958 S cm-1 at room temperature.
- Demonstrated excellent flexibility, retaining 93.3% of conductivity after 1000 bending cycles.
- An 8-leg thermoelectric device generated a maximum power of 7.14 μW with a power density of 8.74 W m-2.
Conclusions:
- The Ag/Ag2Se composite film offers a promising solution for high-performance flexible thermoelectric applications.
- The fabrication strategy provides a new pathway for developing durable and efficient flexible thermoelectric materials.
- The material shows potential for integration into wearable energy harvesting systems.
