Thermoelectric Generator Using Polyaniline-Coated Sb2Se3/β-Cu2Se Flexible Thermoelectric Films

Herein, Sb2Se3 and beta-Cu2Se nanowires are synthesized via hydrothermal reaction and water evaporation-induced self-assembly methods, respectively. The successful syntheses and morphologies of the Sb2Se3 and beta-Cu2Se nanowires are confirmed via X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and field emission transmission electron microscopy (FE-TEM). Sb2Se3 materials have low electrical conductivity which limits application to the thermoelectric generator. To improve the electrical conductivity of the Sb2Se3 and beta-Cu2Se nanowires, polyaniline (PANI) is coated onto the surface and confirmed via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), FE-TEM, and XPS analysis. After coating PANI, the electrical conductivities of Sb2Se3/beta-Cu2Se/PANI composites were increased. The thermoelectric performance of the flexible Sb2Se3/beta-Cu2Se/PANI films is then measured, and the 70%-Sb2Se3/30%-beta-Cu2Se/PANI film is shown to provide the highest power factor of 181.61 mu W/mGreek ano teleiaK(2) at 473 K. In addition, a thermoelectric generator consisting of five legs of the 70%-Sb2Se3/30%-beta-Cu2Se/PANI film is constructed and shown to provide an open-circuit voltage of 7.9 mV and an output power of 80.1 nW at Delta T = 30 K. This study demonstrates that the combination of inorganic thermoelectric materials and flexible polymers can generate power in wearable or portable devices.

Automated summary

Sb2Se3 and beta-Cu2Se nanowires were successfully synthesized using hydrothermal reaction and water evaporation-induced self-assembly methods, with their morphologies confirmed using various analytical techniques. Coating the nanowires with polyaniline (PANI) improved their electrical conductivity, resulting in enhanced thermoelectric performance in flexible films. The combination of inorganic thermoelectric materials and flexible polymers showed promise in generating power for wearable or portable devices.