Silicon nanowires as efficient thermoelectric materials

Thermoelectric materials interconvert thermal gradients and electric fields for power generation or for refrigeration. Thermoelectrics currently find only niche applications because of their limited efficiency, which is measured by the dimensionless parameter ZT-a function of the Seebeck coefficient or thermoelectric power, and of the electrical and thermal conductivities. Maximizing ZT is challenging because optimizing one physical parameter often adversely affects another. Several groups have achieved significant improvements in ZT through multi-component nanostructured thermoelectrics, such as Bi(2)Te(3)/Sb(2)Te(3) thin-film superlattices, or embedded PbSeTe quantum dot superlattices. Here we report efficient thermoelectric performance from the single-component system of silicon nanowires for cross-sectional areas of 10 nm x 20 nm and 20 nm x 20 nm. By varying the nanowire size and impurity doping levels, ZT values representing an approximately 100-fold improvement over bulk Si are achieved over a broad temperature range, including ZT approximately 1 at 200 K. Independent measurements of the Seebeck coefficient, the electrical conductivity and the thermal conductivity, combined with theory, indicate that the improved efficiency originates from phonon effects. These results are expected to apply to other classes of semiconductor nanomaterials.     

半导体温差发电器件应用探讨

讨论了国内外半导体温差发电器件的发展状况,及需要改进的问题。包括器件种类,各种器件适用的领域。分析认为,半导体温差发电器件因其能够将低温废热直接转化为电能,而具有良好发展前景。     

教学型温差发电演示仪的设计与制作

设计并制作了一种简单的教学型温差发电演示仪。演示仪由水和半导体发电片组成温差发电部分,利用冷水与热水之间的温差发电;由温度表和电压表组成测量部分,研究温差与电势之间的关系;由小风扇、LED和电珠组成效果演示部分。本设计原理简单,结构清晰,演示效果明显。教学实践中也很受学生的喜爱。     

球磨工艺调控碲化铋基材料微结构及热电性能研究

碲化铋基化合物是室温附近性能最佳的热电材料,在余热回收以及固态制冷领域具有重要的应用价值. 其主要的制备方式是球磨法,各类参数的细微变化都可能影响材料的微结构和热电性能. 球磨时间作为重要的球磨参数既能影响粉末粒径的细化,也对材料的热电性能有所调控,因此亟需逐步分析球磨时间对晶体结构、粒径尺寸及产物热电性能的影响. 本文采用恒定的球磨转速,调节不同球磨时间制备碲化铋基材料. 通过晶体结构及粉体粒径的分析发现了晶粒对球磨时间的响应. 后续热电性能测试结果表明,增加球磨时间后粒径发生变化并导致了电子、声子输运模式的协同改变. 最终,有效提升了n型与p型碲化铋的最大ZT值,分别达到了0.91和1.11. 本研究工作系统总结了球磨工艺中关键参数对碲化铋材料微结构及热电性能的影响,为粉末冶金及热电学的交叉融合及热电转换技术的商业化应用提供了实验和理论参考.     

Enhanced thermoelectric performance of rough silicon nanowires

Approximately 90 per cent of the world's power is generated by heat engines that use fossil fuel combustion as a heat source and typically operate at 30-40 per cent efficiency, such that roughly 15 terawatts of heat is lost to the environment. Thermoelectric modules could potentially convert part of this low-grade waste heat to electricity. Their efficiency depends on the thermoelectric figure of merit ZT of their material components, which is a function of the Seebeck coefficient, electrical resistivity, thermal conductivity and absolute temperature. Over the past five decades it has been challenging to increase ZT > 1, since the parameters of ZT are generally interdependent. While nanostructured thermoelectric materials can increase ZT > 1 (refs 2-4), the materials (Bi, Te, Pb, Sb, and Ag) and processes used are not often easy to scale to practically useful dimensions. Here we report the electrochemical synthesis of large-area, wafer-scale arrays of rough Si nanowires that are 20-300 nm in diameter. These nanowires have Seebeck coefficient and electrical resistivity values that are the same as doped bulk Si, but those with diameters of about 50 nm exhibit 100-fold reduction in thermal conductivity, yielding ZT = 0.6 at room temperature. For such nanowires, the lattice contribution to thermal conductivity approaches the amorphous limit for Si, which cannot be explained by current theories. Although bulk Si is a poor thermoelectric material, by greatly reducing thermal conductivity without much affecting the Seebeck coefficient and electrical resistivity, Si nanowire arrays show promise as high-performance, scalable thermoelectric materials.     

高压隔离开关温差发电特性的仿真与实验

温差发电技术可吸收物体余热并转换为电能,是未来电力传感器节点能源补给的新型手段之一。以GW9型高压隔离开关和TEG1型温差发电模块为对象,建立了基于ANSYS的高压隔离开关温差发电仿真模型,并搭建了相应实验平台。在隔离开关加载不同工作电流时,研究了温差发电模块的冷热端温差及开路电压特性,并在温差发电模块接入不同负载电阻时,揭示了模块输出功率及能量转换效率的变化规律。结果表明,仿真与实验结果吻合良好,为温差发电技术在高压开关设备状态感知节点能源补给中的应用提供了重要参考。     

Fabrication and performance evaluation of the thermoelectric generation and performance measuring system

A novel thennoelectric generating and performance measuring system （TGPMS） was designed and fabricated. TGPMS can not only achieve the function of thennoelectric generation, but also measure the thennoelectric performance parameters of the bismuth-telluride-based thennoelectric device accurately. These thennoelectric performance parameters mainly include the dependence of the Seebeck coefficient of the thennoelectric device on the device＇s temperature in the low temperature range （about 40 ~ 190~C ）, and the dependence of the power output and thermoelectric conversion efficiency on the temperature dif- ference or output load. With the optimum load, the optimal value of the power output is 3.39W when the temperature difference reaches 231.2~C, and the optimal value of the conversion efficiency is 3.22% when the temperature difference reaches 208.9~C. TGPMS provides an experimental foundation for the application of the thennoelectric generators in the space field.     

Convergence of electronic bands for high performance bulk thermoelectrics

Thermoelectric generators, which directly convert heat into electricity, have long been relegated to use in space-based or other niche applications, but are now being actively considered for a variety of practical waste heat recovery systems-such as the conversion of car exhaust heat into electricity. Although these devices can be very reliable and compact, the thermoelectric materials themselves are relatively inefficient: to facilitate widespread application, it will be desirable to identify or develop materials that have an intensive thermoelectric materials figure of merit, zT, above 1.5 (ref. 1). Many different concepts have been used in the search for new materials with high thermoelectric efficiency, such as the use of nanostructuring to reduce phonon thermal conductivity, which has led to the investigation of a variety of complex material systems. In this vein, it is well known that a high valley degeneracy (typically ≤6 for known thermoelectrics) in the electronic bands is conducive to high zT, and this in turn has stimulated attempts to engineer such degeneracy by adopting low-dimensional nanostructures. Here we demonstrate that it is possible to direct the convergence of many valleys in a bulk material by tuning the doping and composition. By this route, we achieve a convergence of at least 12 valleys in doped PbTe(1-x)Se(x) alloys, leading to an extraordinary zT value of 1.8 at about 850 kelvin. Band engineering to converge the valence (or conduction) bands to achieve high valley degeneracy should be a general strategy in the search for and improvement of bulk thermoelectric materials, because it simultaneously leads to a high Seebeck coefficient and high electrical conductivity.     

基于热电效应的地热资源发电技术

地热资源是一种低碳环保的可再生清洁能源,高效合理开发地热资源对于我国能源产业结构调整,推进实现“碳达峰”与“碳中和”目标具有重要意义。针对传统地热发电转化效率低、规模化开发难等问题,提出一种基于热电效应的地热资源发电技术,通过设计井下热电机装置,构建具有流体温度差的闭合回路,实现井下热电高效转化;建立井下热流温度场数学模型,定量预测井筒热量传递效率;创建地热发电经济评价指标,评估地热发电经济可行性。研究结果表明,井下地热发电技术能有效将热能转换为电能,适用于高含水的油气井;通过提高注入速率,串联安装多个热电机,可以有效提高发电量;地热发电技术单位电量费用为0.6元/(kW·h),随着规模化应用发电成本会进一步下降。研究结果为我国地热发电技术提供了一种低成本、大规模、高效开发的解决方案,为我国能源结构调整和节能降耗减排等研究提供借鉴。     

钻井柴油发电机余热技术研究与应用

随着科学技术发展和降本增效、节能降耗的需要,根据钻井柴油发电机使用过程中能耗的组成,以及温差发电技术的优点,提出了一种针对柴油发电机的余热回收利用方式,将温差发电技术应用到钻井柴油发电机的余热回收利用中.通过对现场数据的分析,利用柴油发电机余热温差发电技术,将会在钻井过程中起到降本增效、节能降耗的作用,同时具有环保的效果,有利于在国内钻井行业的推广应用,具有良好的发展前途和广阔的市场前景.     

直流梯度磁场对Al合金热电势的影响

研究了Al合金的热电势在直流梯度磁场中的行为.结果发现:在直流梯度磁场作用下,Al-289%Fe合金熔体的热电势降低;关闭磁场,降低的热电势没有立刻回升,而是在保持一段时间不变后,才缓慢恢复到施加磁场前的初始值.温度越高,热电势增速越快,增量越多,回归速度也越快.这种磁效应,在不同温度、不同成分的Al合金熔体(包括纯Al)中被普遍观察到;而在固态纯Al和Al合金中尚未观察到这种效应.在均匀磁场作用下,液态Al合金的热电势也没有发生变化.根据局域理论,定性地解释了磁场对合金熔体热电势的影响.     

基于温差发电的汽车电源系统设计

为了减少传统汽车的燃油消耗以及提高汽车电池的使用寿命,通过对温差发电技术的研究,利用汽车燃烧产生的废气热量进行发电,将温差发电系统与传统汽车电源系统进行优化,为汽车的用电设备进行充电,可以有效的减少汽车燃油消耗以及提高车用电池的寿命,同时也达到相应的环保功用。     

外置式太阳能热电烟囱通风及其对室内热环境的影响

太阳能烟囱(solar chimney, SC)是热压驱动室内自然通风的重要手段之一,提高其太阳能利用率和通风性能具有重要意义。结合离散热源强化烟囱通风理念,提出了一种外置式太阳能热电烟囱并探讨了烟囱通风特性及其对室内环境影响。首先基于流动传热与热电能量转换理论,建立了太阳能热电烟囱二维非稳态模型。其次分析了不同热电发电机(thermoelectric generator, TEG)位置,如烟囱出口处(TEG-outlet),烟囱中部处(TEG-mid),烟囱入口处(TEG-inlet),烟囱通风性能与室内环境流动分布规律,并进一步讨论了热电发电性能。最后比较了外置式离散热电烟囱(solar chimney integrated with TEG,TEG-SC)与传统烟囱的各项通风、发电性能的差异,阐明TEG-SC的优势。结果表明：随着光照强度增大,热电放置在入口处相对于放置在出口处和中部处下的出口速度和每小时换气率量(air changes per hour, ACH)最大,此时,每个位置TEG的发电功率差别不大,但是随着光照强度的增大,热电放置出口处的发电功率会逐渐增大。与此同时,...     

非均匀温度分布下温差发电阵列拓扑结构优化

利用热电材料实现温差发电技术已成为目前研究热点,但温差发电阵列热端温度分布不均将严重影响系统的输出功率和可靠性。为此,首先针对2×2温差发电阵列,研究其在不同热端温度分布情况下,温差发电阵列内部的连接方式与输出功率和可靠性的关系。其次,提出了一种温差阵列内部连接结构优化方法,通过改变内部连接方式以减少阵列功率损失,提高其可靠性。最后,通过温差实验平台,在不均匀温度下开展了4×4温差发电阵列实验,并与传统串并联阵列、网状阵列和桥型阵列等温差发电阵列进行了输出功率及可靠性比较分析。实验结果表明：在热端温度不一致的情况下,所提出的优化温差发电阵列比传统温差发电阵列可以更好地兼顾温差发电阵列的输出功率与可靠性。     

具有负反馈特征的光伏-温差联合发电模型与效率分析

太阳能电池输出功率随着温度升高而降低,半导体温差发电模块输出功率随着温差的增大而升高.结合两者输出功率随温度变化的关系,利用烟囱效应巧妙设计了一套具有负反馈作用的光伏 温差联合发电系统,并对其进行了效率和环境分析.结果表明:系统处于稳定工况时,温差模块可以提供输出功率4.3 W,光伏电池比自然冷却方式下的输出功率增加6.9%,系统的光电转换效率增加1.42%,效率达到12.06%,在寿命期内比火力发电减排NOx 9.7 kg、CO2 742.9 kg、SO2 9.6 kg;系统可以有效地控制电池板与环境的温差在22 ℃左右,增加电池板的使用寿命,这对可再生能源的应用具有理论指导意义.     

Bi2Te3基热电材料的电输运性能研究进展

Bi2Te3基化合物是热电领域的代表性材料之一,被广泛应用于余热发电、固态制冷、温度探测等方面.该类材料具有复杂的能带结构,利用强自旋轨道和能带反转,有望对Bi2Te3基材料的热电性能实现优化.通过分析对比近些年Bi2Te3基材料的能带结构计算数据与部分实验结果,总结了Bi2Te3、N型Bi2Te3-x Sex和P型B...     

瞬态热冲击下热电材料梁的温度场及热应力分析

基于热电材料特性,通过热电平衡方程和本构方程,得出热电材料梁瞬态模型的控制方程.采用分离变量法结合模型的初始条件和边界条件求出热电材料梁的非线性瞬态温度场,根据热应力理论分析求出瞬态热应力场,利用数学软件MATLAB给出了热电材料梁的呈抛物线分布的瞬态温度场和瞬态热应力场的特性曲线,研究了热冲击载荷下的热电材料梁在热电耦合环境中的热应力分析.讨论了不同时刻温度场和应力场随厚度的变化,以及对比p型和n型Bi₂Te₃热电材料梁热应力特性曲线.结果表明:瞬态温度场受其瞬态项的影响随厚度增加有增有减;瞬态温度场和瞬态热应力场随时间的增加最终趋于稳态不再随时间变化;趋于稳态后的Bi₂Te₃热电材料梁的热应力最值大于瞬态下的热应力最值;p型Bi₂Te₃热电材料梁的热应力总是大于n型Bi₂Te₃热电材料梁的热应力.     

汤姆逊效应和附加热阻对热电模块性能的影响

针对热电模块运行过程中的影响因素,考虑汤姆逊效应和陶瓷板、金属导流片、接触表面等产生的附加热阻,建立了新的热电能量平衡方程,并据此研究了汤姆逊效应与附加热阻对热电模块的输出功率、热电转化效率及效率的影响规律.结果表明:在本文计算条件下,汤姆逊效应及附加热阻对热电模块性能的影响随着热电模块工作电流的增加而增大;同时,汤姆逊效应和附加热阻均使得热电模块的最大输出功率、最大热电转化效率对应的最佳工作电流减小,这一点在热电发电装置的设计时必须予以考虑.     

有机无机复合温差电材料的无机掺杂剂

有机导电高分子因其低的热导率在温差电方面受到广泛的关注,但低电导率限制了其发展.掺杂无机半导体或CNT等纳米材料可有效改善有机导电高分子的热电性能.以PEDOT/PSS有机高分子为代表介绍有机无机复合温差电材料的无机掺杂剂的最新进展,并展望有机无机复合温差电材料未来的发展与应用.     

球形温度场对平面温差发电器热电计算模型的影响

为了解决现有热电模型不能计算球形温度场中平面温差发电器热电输出的问题,建立了球形温度场中平面温差发电器的热电输出计算模型。仿真测试表明,建立的球形温度场中平面温差发电器输出模型的计算误差不超过10%。基于所建模型,研究了形成球形温度场的点热源的位置变化对平面温差发电器热电输出的影响。结果表明,增加点热源与温差发电器热端的距离,平面温差发电器输出的电流和功率大致呈指数规律减小;增加点热源与温差发电器的位置偏角,平面温差发电器输出的电流和功率大致呈抛物线规律减小。