Hydrothermal Synthesis Au-Bi2Te3 Nanocomposite Thermoelectric Film with a Hierarchical Sub-Micron Antireflection Quasi-Periodic Structure

Abstract

In this work, Au-Bi2Te3 nanocomposite thermoelectric film with a hierarchical sub-micron antireflection quasi-periodic structure was synthesized via a low-temperature chemical route using Troides helena (Linnaeus) forewing (T_FW) as the biomimetic template. This method combines chemosynthesis with biomimetic techniques, without the requirement of expensive equipment and energy intensive processes. The microstructure and the morphology of the Au-Bi2Te3 nanocomposite thermoelectric film was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning-electron microscopy (FESEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Coupled the plasmon resonances of the Au nanoparticles with the hierarchical sub-micron antireflection quasi-periodic structure, the Au-Bi2Te3 nanocomposite thermoelectric film possesses an effective infrared absorption and infrared photothermal conversion performance. Based on the finite difference time domain method and the Joule effect, the heat generation and the heat source density distribution of the Au-Bi2Te3 nanocomposite thermoelectric film were studied. The heterogeneity of heat source density distribution of the Au-Bi2Te3 nanocomposite thermoelectric film opens up a novel promising technique for generating thermoelectric power under illumination.

High-Efficiency Photo-Thermo-Electric System with Waste Heat Utilization and Energy Storage

“…Then, the carriers are transferred to the other side (the cold side) of TEG and get accumulated there, thereby generating a potential difference between the hot and cold sides. At present, two kinds of solar TEGs are classified based on materials, including flexible organic thermoelectric materials and rigid inorganic thermoelectric materials. − The first type of solar TEG is a thin film device based on organic thermoelectric materials, and its hot side and cold side are located at the two horizontal ends of TEG. ,− This solar TEG usually has strong absorption in the solar spectrum, specifically the NIR-MIR region. Its principle is that the hot side absorbs infrared light through photothermal materials so that there is a temperature difference between the hot side and the cold side, and then, there is a potential difference.…”

Bio‐Inspired Photonic Materials: Prototypes and Structural Effect Designs for Applications in Solar Energy Manipulation

“…Zhang and co‐workers further developed Au‐Bi 2 Te 3 composite thermoelectric film based on the same black scales. The nonhomogeneity of heat source density distribution was beneficial to efficiently generate electricity . The results pave a new pathway for the utilization of infrared light with natural evolved architectures and for photothermal and photoelectric conversion applications.…”