Output Characteristics of Carbon Nanotube Thermoelectric Generator with Slitted Kirigami Structure

The objective of our research is to improve the power generation of a thermoelectric generator (TEG) using a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) sheet by applying the out-of-plane deformation of a slitted kirigami structure. In order to obtain a large amount of power from a TEG using a thin-film thermoelectric (TE) element such as a SWCNT sheet, it is necessary to generate a large temperature difference in the in-plane direction of the thin-film TE element. However, it is difficult to realize a large temperature difference when the thin-film TE element is in contact with a heat source due to the need for a layer with high heat insulation. In this research, we proposed and fabricated a TEG with the out-of-plane deformation of a kirigami structure with slits using a p-n patterned SWCNT sheet as the thin-film TE material and evaluated the open circuit voltage with respect to the out-of-plane deformation and the number of TE elements. As a result, the output performance of SWCNT TEG was clarified when the out-of-plane deformation and the number of TE element pairs were varied.