Dispenser printed circular thermoelectric devices using Bi and Bi_0.5Sb_1.5Te₃

Abstract

This work presents polymer based composite materials used in slurries form to print low cost and scalable micro-scale Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) devices. Bi-epoxy composite is chosen as n-type material and mechanical alloy p-type Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 with 8 wt. % extra Te-epoxy composite is used as p-type material. Maximum power factor of 0.00008 W/m-K2 is achieved for Bi-epoxy and Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 with 8 wt. % extra Te-epoxy composite dispenser printed thick films. A 10 couple dispenser printed circular TEG prototype produced 130 μW power at ΔT of 70 K resulting in a device areal power density of 1230 μW/cm2.