Issue 1, 2017

The bridge between the materials and devices of thermoelectric power generators

Abstract

While considerable efforts have been made to develop and improve thermoelectric materials, research on thermoelectric modules is at a relatively early stage because of the gap between material and device technologies. In this review, we discuss the cumulative temperature dependence model to reliably predict the thermoelectric performance of module devices and individual materials for an accurate evaluation of the p–n configuration compared to the conventional model used since the 1950s. In this model, the engineering figure of merit and engineering power factor are direct indicators, and they exhibit linear correlations to efficiency and output power density, respectively. To reconcile the strategy for high material performance and the thermomechanical reliability issue in devices, a new methodology is introduced by defining the engineering thermal conductivity. Beyond thermoelectric materials, the device point of view needs to be actively addressed before thermoelectric generators can be envisioned as power sources.

Graphical abstract: The bridge between the materials and devices of thermoelectric power generators

Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
26 Aug. 2016
Accepted
17 Nov. 2016
First published
17 Nov. 2016

Energy Environ. Sci., 2017,10, 69-85

The bridge between the materials and devices of thermoelectric power generators

H. S. Kim, W. Liu and Z. Ren, Energy Environ. Sci., 2017, 10, 69 DOI: 10.1039/C6EE02488B

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements