TOP PAGE
ENGLISH
JAPANESE
|
CONNECT WITH US:
Home
About
Services
Contact
Log in
*
Home
Press release
Nov 21, 2018 08:00 JST
Source:
Science and Technology of Advanced Materials
Energizing heat for smart appliances
Materials that harvest heat and turn it into electricity could lead to more cost-effective devices.
TSUKUBA, Japan, Nov 21, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - Scientists are getting closer to designing thermoelectric materials that efficiently harvest heat from the surrounding environment and convert it into electricity to power various devices and appliances, according to a review of the latest research in the journal Science and Technology of Advanced Materials. Devices made with these materials could avoid the need to recharge, change and dispose of batteries.
A flexible thermoelectric device embedded in a glove for generating electricity by body heat. (Credit: Dr Song Yun Cho, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology)
For thermoelectric materials to be efficient energy producers, they need to be able to hold heat and conduct electricity well. Thermoelectric materials that can work near room temperature and are flexible would be especially advantageous, particularly for use in wearable devices.
Three types of conducting materials are being investigated for use in thermoelectric devices: inorganic, organic and hybrid materials.
Inorganic thermoelectric materials efficiently convert heat into electricity, but are not very flexible. Researchers are working to overcome this hurdle. For example, a flexible thermoelectric device was fabricated using chromel (90% nickel and 10% chromium) and constantan (55% copper and 45% nickel) layers covered by a flexible sheet made of polyimide and copper. Micro-thermoelectric generators based on inorganic materials have potential applications in environmental and building monitoring, animal tracking, security and surveillance, and medical treatment. They have already been introduced into commercial devices, such as a body-heat-powered watch manufactured by Seiko.
Most organic thermoelectric devices involve polymers. Semiconducting polymers conduct electricity and hold heat better than conventional inorganic semiconductors. They are also lighter and less expensive. Unlike rigid inorganic materials, they are flexible and moldable and can be produced in any shape using 3D printers. However, they are less efficient at converting heat into electricity. Researchers are trying to improve the thermoelectric efficiency of polymers by tuning the composition, length and arrangement of their molecules, aiming to increase the electrical conductivity and crystallinity of the final material.
Research that aims to combine the advantages of organic and inorganic materials by blending them together is focused on finding optimal compositions and improving the mixing process. For example, embedding organic molecules into inorganic titanium disulfide crystals makes them flexible and reduces their thermal conductivity. This improves the overall thermoelectric performance.
The authors conclude that thermoelectric devices can potentially replace traditional batteries in many applications, but a lot of work on improving thermoelectric materials is required for achieving success in this direction.
For more information about the research, contact
Professor Xavier Crispin
Laboratory of Organic Electronics
Linkoping University
xavier.crispin@liu.se
About Science and Technology of Advanced Materials Journal
Open access journal, STAM publishes outstanding research articles across all Aspects of materials science, including functional and structural materials, theoretical analyses, and properties of materials.
For more information about STAM, please contact:
Mikiko Tanifuji
STAM Publishing Director
Tanifuji.Mikiko@nims.go.jp
Paper link:
https://doi.org/10.1080/14686996.2018.1530938
Press release distributed by ResearchSEA for Science and Technology of Advanced Materials.
Source: Science and Technology of Advanced Materials
Sectors: Electronics, Science & Nanotech
Copyright ©2024 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Asia Corporate News Network.
Related Press Release
A new spin on materials analysis
April 17 2024 22:00 JST
Kirigami hydrogels rise from cellulose film
April 12 2024 18:00 JST
Sensing structure without touching
February 27 2024 08:00 JST
Nano-sized probes reveal how cellular structure responds to pressure
November 21 2023 07:00 JST
Machine learning techniques improve X-ray materials analysis
November 17 2023 10:00 JST
A bio-inspired twist on robotic handling
November 14 2023 20:00 JST
GPT-4 artificial intelligence shows some competence in chemistry
October 17 2023 08:00 JST
Closing the loop between artificial intelligence and robotic experiments
August 24 2023 09:00 JST
Machine intelligence for designing molecules and reaction pathways
May 24 2023 09:00 JST
Face-down: Gravity's effects on cell movement
May 13 2023 00:00 JST
More Press release >>
Latest Press Release
First-ever Mazda CX-80 Crossover SUV Unveiled in Europe
Apr 19, 2024 13:50 JST
Fujitsu develops technology to convert corporate digital identity credentials, enabling participation of non-European companies in European data spaces
Apr 19, 2024 10:17 JST
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and NGK to Jointly Develop Hydrogen Purification System from Ammonia Cracking Gas
Apr 18, 2024 17:01 JST
Toyota Launches All-New Land Cruiser "250" Series in Japan
Apr 18, 2024 13:39 JST
Fujitsu and Oracle collaborate to deliver sovereign cloud and AI capabilities in Japan
Apr 18, 2024 11:14 JST
Eisai: Research on Treatments for Alzheimer's Disease Based on Its Pathological Mechanisms Recieves Award for Science and Technology (Research Category)
Apr 18, 2024 10:53 JST
All-New Triton Confirmed as First Double-Cab Pickup Truck to Achieve 2024 Five-Star ANCAP Safety Rating
Apr 18, 2024 09:22 JST
Eisai's Antiepileptic Drug Fycompa Injection Formulation Launched In Japan
Apr 17, 2024 16:17 JST
Honda Unveils Next-generation EV Series for China
Apr 17, 2024 12:15 JST
Lexus presents Time at the 2024 Milan Design Week
Apr 16, 2024 18:49 JST
Mitsubishi Corporation Announces Participation in a DAC Project in Louisiana, USA
Apr 16, 2024 14:36 JST
New circuit challenge for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing
Apr 15, 2024 17:21 JST
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing back on asphalt for Croatian challenge
Apr 12, 2024 19:36 JST
Heidelberg Materials North America Announces Latest Milestone in Edmonton CCUS Project
Apr 12, 2024 14:39 JST
MHIAEL Completes Expansion of the its Nagasaki Plant for Manufacture of Aero Engine Combustors
Apr 11, 2024 18:08 JST
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Acquires Approval in Principle (AiP) from Classification Society ClassNK for Ammonia Fuel Supply System (AFSS)
Apr 11, 2024 17:50 JST
DOCOMO, NTT, NEC and Fujitsu Develop Top-level Sub-terahertz 6G Device Capable of Ultra-high-speed 100 Gbps Transmission
Apr 11, 2024 15:10 JST
Mitsubishi Corporation Announces Completion of Capital Raise by Nexamp
Apr 11, 2024 13:07 JST
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Receives Order for Ammonia Fuel Supply System for Ammonia-Powered Marine Engine
Apr 10, 2024 16:55 JST
Transgene and NEC Present First Clinical Benefits of Neoantigen Cancer Vaccine, TG4050, in Head & Neck Cancer at AACR 2024
Apr 10, 2024 13:36 JST
More Latest Release >>