Fan‐Shaped Flexible Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators Based on BixTey and BixSb2‐xTey Fabricated Through Electrochemical Deposition

Abstract

This article employs electrochemical deposition to prepare thermoelectric film materials to achieve a miniaturized radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG). First, the optimal composition and material properties are obtained by optimizing the deposition potential and the concentration of the electrolyte. The n‐type material can reach the highest thermoelectric power factor of 812.34 μW m−1 K−2 at a deposition potential of 0 V vs Ag/AgCl, and its composition is Bi1.92Te3.08. The highest power factor of 137.18 μW m−1 K−2 of the p‐type material is obtained when the ratio of the concentration of SbO+ to Bi3+ ions in the electrolyte solution is set to 6 with the deposition potential of −0.12 V vs Ag/AgCl. The composition is Bi0.68Sb1.24Te3.08. Then, a principle fan‐shaped RTG (FRTG) with an overall size of 11 mm (height) × 33.8 mm (diameter) is manufactured and tested. The FRTG generates an open‐circuit voltage of 170.21 mV, a maximum output power of 247.55 nW, and a temperature difference of 57.8 K at 1.5 W heat source. Compared with the RTG prepared by mechanical cutting in previous research, the FRTG exhibits a volume that is reduced by 12.45 times and a voltage that is increased by 60.71%.