Flexo-green thermoelectric power generators for harvesting low temperature heat

Thermoelectric power generators which convert thermal difference into electrical power are being looked upon as a better tool in comparison to other energy conversion technologies for harnessing natural as well as waste heat. Along with conventional inorganic materials, variety of new thermoelectric materials such as chalcogenides, clathrates, half Heusler alloys, skutterudites etc. have been studied for thermoelectric applications. However, recently conducting polymers owing to their nature friendliness, flexibility, reduced manufacturing and processing cost and low thermal conductivity have carved out a special place in the arena of thermoelectricity. Though these organic materials cannot substitute conventional inorganic materials at higher temperatures (in terms of efficiency and stability) but their non-toxicity, plentiful availability and solution process ability enable them to overshadow their inorganic counterparts for low-temperature heat recovery programmes. Moreover, to harness heat from body/ instrument's curved surfaces, wearable or flexible aspect of thermoelectric devices must be emphasized. Conducting polymers being capable of deposition over large and flexible surface-areas thus possess an additional advantage, which the rigid and brittle Bi₂Te₃ based alloys cannot provide. In addition, the capability of conducting polymer to blend with inorganic materials along with their evolution in form of high performance polymer-fabric composites/ free-standing films indicates a bright future for conducting polymers based smart and wearable but inexpensive devices. This talk intends to discuss the scope of conducting polymers films based wearable thermoelectric power generators. (author)