Parva Parsa | Searcharxiv

arXiv2026

Synergistic enhancement of Bi2Te3 Sb2Te3 PMMA thermoelectric generators via dithiol assisted conductivity and FEM based geometry optimization

In recent decades, thermoelectric (TE) materials have proven to be a complementary source of renewable energy, as they can directly convert waste heat into electrical energy. Energy-efficient, reliable, and scalable synthetic routes for the fabrication of TE materials and their processing into functional devices via low-energy and low-waste routes are necessary for the broader adoption of these materials in various applications. In this work, we report the formulation of hybrid thermoelectric (hTE) inks based on nanostructured Sb2Te3 and Bi2Te3, using PMMA as the polymer matrix and hexanedithiol (HDT) as the binder. Percolation studies were conducted to determine the optimal film composition, with an 80% nanoparticle content yielding the highest TE performance. Finite element modelling (FEM) was employed to optimize the device geometry, including the cross-sectional area ratio of p- and n-type legs, to maximize power output. Based on these results, a flexible hTEG was fabricated using the optimized ink composition. The device exhibited an output power of 950 nW and a Power Output Density (PoD) of 40.37 nW cm-2 under a 30 K temperature gradient, significantly outperforming previously reported polymer-based flexible hTEGs incorporating chalcogenides. This study presents a sustainable and effective strategy for developing high-performance hybrid thermoelectric devices through ink formulation, composition optimization, and simulation-guided device design.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2025

Scalable solution chemical synthesis and comprehensive analysis of Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3

Thermoelectric (TE) materials can directly convert heat into electrical energy. However, they sustain costly production procedures and batch-to-batch performance variations. Therefore, developing scalable synthetic techniques for large-scale and reproducible quality TE materials is critical for advancing TE technology. This study developed a facile, high throughput, solution-chemical synthetic technique. Microwave-assisted thermolysis process, providing energy-efficient volumetric heating, was used for the synthesis of bismuth and antimony telluride (Bi2Te3, Sb2Te3). As-made materials were characterized using various techniques, including XRPD, SEM, TEM, XAS, and XPS. Detailed investigation of the local atomic structure of the synthesized Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 powder samples was conducted through synchrotron radiation XAS experiments. The sintered TE materials exhibited low thermal conductivity, achieving the highest TE figure-of-merit values of 0.7 (573 K) and 0.9 (523 K) for n-type Bi2Te3 and p-type Sb2Te3, respectively, shifted significantly to the high-temperature region when compared to earlier reports, highlighting their potential for power generation applications. The scalable, energyand time-efficient synthetic method developed, along with the demonstration of its potential for TE materials, opens the door for a wider application of these materials with minimal environmental impact.

physics.app-ph↗