Solar Thermoelectricity for Power Generation

Abstract

Thermoelectric materials convert waste heat into electricity, making sustainable power generation possible when a temperature gradient is applied. Solar radiation is one potential abundant and eco‐friendly heat source for this application, where one side of the thermoelectric device is heated by incident sunlight, while the other side is kept at a cooler temperature. This is known as solar thermoelectric generation. Various thermoelectric materials are used for different solar thermoelectric applications, and different methods are explored to enhance the temperature gradient across the material. Solar optical concentrators, thermal and selective absorbers, and other tools are proposed to improve the performance of solar thermoelectrics. Despite continuous research and development, experimental solar thermoelectric efficiencies remain below 10%, and theoretical efficiencies do not surpass 20%. In this review, the different designs of solar thermoelectric generators are examined within the context of thermoelectric elements, optical concentrators, solar absorbers, and other techniques to enhance their performance. Last, an overview of the current state of solar thermoelectrics is provided, areas for improvement are suggested, and the future of these devices is predicted.

An elliptical nanoantenna array plasmonic metasurface for efficient solar energy harvesting

“…In air environments, they can be solar absorbers and emitters in solar thermophotovoltaic (STPV) systems, 16,17 photodetectors, 18 and solar thermoelectric generators (STEGs). 19,20 In water environments, they can be used in photothermal vaporization for water desalination, purification, sterilization, and seawater treatment to produce fresh water. 21,22 Additionally, they can play an influential role in improving photo(electro)catalytic reactions 23–25 for solar fuel production, such as water splitting.…”

Electrospun Polyvinylidene Fluoride Nanogenerator with Hydrophobic Properties and Enhanced Energy Harvesting for Wearable and Wireless Sensing

“…There is an increasing demand for high-performance, lightweight, and sustainable energy conversion and power supply equipment. As a promising new material, piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) have strong and stable electromechanical conversion capabilities, which can successfully obtain energy from solar energy in the environment, , wind energy, − tidal energy, − heat, − light, − mechanical vibration, − human movement, − etc. and convert it into electrical energy with utilization value.…”

Sustainable lignin-derived hierarchical mesoporous carbon synthesized by a renewable nano-calcium carbonate hard template method and its utilization in zinc ion hybrid supercapacitors

“…Currently, in order to mitigate the depletion of fossil fuels and the consequences of global warming and other environmental issues, it is becoming increasingly important to develop renewable energy supplies globally. 1–3 However, renewable energy sources such as solar, 4 wind, 5 and tidal energy 6 are intermittent, meaning that their power generation fluctuates greatly. To ensure a steady power supply, efficient storage of the electricity generated by these sources is essential.…”