| Abstract Scope |
Thermoelectric materials enable both solid-state cooling and power generation, utilizing electrical energy and heat sources, respectively. This phenomenon has been studied for over two centuries since its discovery in 1821.
Despite significant progress in developing materials with high figures of merit (ZT) in the temperature range of 300–800 °C, high-power thermoelectric modules are still uncommon. In practice, thermoelectric systems offer limited advantages over alternative technologies for waste heat recovery above ~300 °C. In contrast, recovering waste heat below 300 °C is far more compelling due to its abundance and the lack of competing technologies. At these lower temperatures, the key challenge is not conversion efficiency, but rather maximizing the total power output per module.
In this presentation, I will highlight our recent advances in both materials and device design that enable power outputs exceeding 20 W from a 40 × 40 mm thermoelectric module operating below 250 °C. |