A Thermoelectric Energy Harvester Based on Microstructured Quasicrystalline Solar Absorber

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Energy Harvesting
• Solid-State Physics

Background:

• Solar radiation is abundant but challenging to harness for thermoelectric generators (TEGs).
• Standard TEGs under solar radiation often have insufficient temperature gradients for effective power generation.
• Efficient energy harvesting is crucial for powering Internet of Things (IoT) devices in outdoor applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a compact thermoelectric energy harvester utilizing quasicrystals (QCs) as a solar absorber.
• To enhance the temperature gradient across the TEG using a water-cooled heat sink.
• To evaluate the performance of the QC-based harvester against conventional materials and assess its suitability for powering IoT devices.

Main Methods:

• Designed and constructed a TEG-based energy harvester incorporating a quasicrystal solar absorber and a water-cooled heat sink.
• Integrated a power management circuit for voltage regulation and energy storage in a supercapacitor.
• Conducted experimental comparisons between the QC-based harvester and a similar device using black paint as the solar absorber.

Main Results:

• The quasicrystal-based harvester demonstrated 28.6% greater efficiency in energy generation compared to the black paint absorber.
• The QC-based harvester achieved supercapacitor full charge approximately two hours sooner than the conventional harvester.
• The study analyzed the harvested energy's capacity to power a smart agriculture sensor node, considering measurement and transmission trade-offs.

Conclusions:

• Quasicrystal solar absorbers offer a significant advancement in thermoelectric energy harvesting efficiency.
• The proposed harvester design effectively utilizes solar radiation to create substantial temperature gradients for TEGs.
• This technology holds promise for sustainable power solutions in IoT and smart agriculture applications.