High-Efficiency Skutterudite Modules at a Low Temperature Gradient

Wenjie Li, David Stokes, Bed Poudel, Udara Saparamadu, Amin Nozariasbmarz, Han Byul Kang and Shashank Priya
Additional contact information
Wenjie Li: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
David Stokes: Electronics and Applied Physics Division, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
Bed Poudel: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
Udara Saparamadu: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
Amin Nozariasbmarz: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
Han Byul Kang: Center for Energy Harvesting Materials and Systems (CEHMS), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
Shashank Priya: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 22, 1-11

Abstract: Thermoelectric skutterudite materials have been widely investigated for their potential application in mid-temperature waste heat recovery that has not been efficiently utilized A large amount of research has focused on developing materials with a high thermoelectric figure of merit ( zT ). However, the translation of material properties to device performance has limited success. Here, we demonstrate single-filling n-type Yb 0.25 Fe 0.25 Co 3.75 Sb 12 and multi-filling La 0.7 Ti 0.1 Ga 0.1 Fe 2.7 Co 1.3 Sb 12 skutterudites with a maximum zT of ~1.3 at 740 K and ~0.97 at 760 K. The peak zT of skutterudites usually occurs above 800 K, but, as shown here, the shift in peak zT to lower temperatures is beneficial for enhancing conversion efficiency at a lower hot-side temperature. In this work, we have demonstrated that the Fe-substitution significantly reduces the thermal conductivity of n-type skutterudite, closer to p-type skutterudite thermal conductivity, resulting in a module that is more compatible to operate at elevated temperatures. A uni-couple skutterudite module was fabricated using a molybdenum electrode and Ga–Sn liquid metal as the thermal interface material. A conversion efficiency of 7.27% at a low temperature gradient of 366 K was achieved, which is among the highest efficiencies reported in the literature at this temperature gradient. These results highlight that peak zT shift and optimized module design can improve conversion efficiency of thermoelectric modules at a low temperature gradient.

Keywords: thermoelectric; skutterudite; conversion efficiency; temperature gradient (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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