Cu2Se-based thermoelectric cellular architectures for efficient and durable power generation

Abstract

Thermoelectric power generation offers a promising way to recover waste heat. The geometrical design of thermoelectric legs in modules is important to ensure sustainable power generation but cannot be easily achieved by traditional fabrication processes. Herein, we propose the design of cellular thermoelectric architectures for efficient and durable power generation, realized by the extrusion-based 3D printing process of Cu2Se thermoelectric materials. We design the optimum aspect ratio of a cuboid thermoelectric leg to maximize the power output and extend this design to the mechanically stiff cellular architectures of hollow hexagonal column- and honeycomb-based thermoelectric legs. Moreover, we develop organic binder-free Cu2Se-based 3D-printing inks with desirable viscoelasticity, tailored with an additive of inorganic Se82− polyanion, fabricating the designed topologies. The computational simulation and experimental measurement demonstrate the superior power output and mechanical stiffness of the proposed cellular thermoelectric architectures to other designs, unveiling the importance of topological designs of thermoelectric legs toward higher power and longer durability.

Direct ink writing of high-performance Bi2Te3-based thermoelectric materials using quasi-inorganic inks and interface engineering

“…Direct ink writing (DIW), a type of extrusion 3D printing technology, has recently emerged as a convenient and low-cost method of constructing custom-built shapes. [14][15][16] To date, many TE materials and devices including conducting polymers, 17,18 Bi 2 Te 3 -based, 13,19 PbTe-based, 20 and Cu 2 Se-based 21 compounds can be printed. Nevertheless, the ZT values of 3D-printed materials are lower than those of bulk counterparts.…”

“…[24][25][26] Furthermore, the pores created from the pressureless sintering process also hinder the transportation of electrons. 13,20,21,27 Therefore, organic residuals and porosities are the longstanding challenges in ZT enhancement, which so far has not been achieved in DIWed TE materials.…”

Generalised optical printing of photocurable metal chalcogenides

“…Cu 2 Se powder was synthesised by the high-energy ball-milling of Cu and Se powders (2:1, atomic ratio) for 200 min as described in a previous report 25 . Ball-milled Cu 2 Se powder (103 mg) was added to a mixture of 1 ml of ethylenediamine and 0.1 ml of ethanedithiol (10:1, v/v) in a 10 ml vial with a stirring bar.…”

Enhancement of the thermoelectric performance of Cu3SbSe4 particles by controlling morphology using exfoliated selenium nanosheets

“…12,13 However, the toxicity of Te has resulted in the promotion of studies on comparatively less toxic and earthabundant Se-based materials with similar properties. 14 Accordingly, various studies have been conducted to improve the thermoelectric performance of Bi 2 Se 3 -, [15][16][17] Bi 2 O 2 Se-, 18,19 Cu 2 Se-, [20][21][22] SnSe [23][24][25] and Cu 7 Sn 3 S 10 -based materials. 26,27 Further, recent studies have demonstrated the synthesis of complex derivative compounds with a series of primitive cells based on Groups II-VI compounds, such as ternary I-III-VI, II-IV-V, II-III-VI, I-IV-VI, I-V-VI, and quaternary I-II-IV-VI compounds.…”