Abstract
Thermoelectrics can convert waste heat to electricity and vice versa. The energy conversion efficiency depends on materials figure of merit, zT, and Carnot efficiency. Due to the higher Carnot efficiency at a higher temperature gradient, high-temperature thermoelectrics are attractive for waste heat recycling. Among high-temperature thermoelectrics, silicon-based compounds are attractive due to the confluence of light weight, high abundance, and low cost. Adding to their attractiveness is the generally defect-tolerant nature of thermoelectrics. This makes them a suitable target application for recycled silicon waste from electronic (e-waste) and solar cell waste. In this review, we summarize the usage of high-temperature thermoelectric generators (TEGs) in applications such as commercial aviation and space voyages. Special emphasis is placed on silicon-based compounds, which include some recent works on recycled silicon and their thermoelectric properties. Besides materials design, device designing considerations to further maximize the energy conversion efficiencies are also discussed. The insights derived from this review can be used to guide sustainable recycling of e-waste into thermoelectrics for power harvesting.
Highlights
The increasing trend in energy generation worldwide is accelerating with a high of 162,194 TWh recorded in 2019, 21% more in comparison with a decade ago [1]
functionally graded materials (FGMs) for silicon-based materials were previously studied by Hedegaard et al and Rogolino et al as well, no studies have yet explored the performance of the material in an ATEG [151,152]
The large temperature difference and multiple possible applications that can be powered by scavenged energy make thermoelectrics an ideal match for use in commercial aviation
Summary
The increasing trend in energy generation worldwide is accelerating with a high of 162,194 TWh recorded in 2019, 21% more in comparison with a decade ago [1]. Whether by fuel combustion or by conversion from other energy forms, usually involves a certain degree of heat loss to the environment. This heat loss becomes more pronounced at higher operating temperatures due to the large thermal difference between the source, the mechanical components, and the surroundings, promoting energy dissipation by radiation. The conversion of energy from heat to electricity through thermoelectric materials will be explored in the context of high-temperature applications, such as commercial planes and deep space exploration. Device designing considerations will be discussed to comment on the requirements of a suitable thermoelectric module in the context of the aforementioned high-temperature applications of commercial aviation and space voyages
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