Abstract
Piezoelectric effect has proved itself to be a promising energy conversion mechanism that can convert mechanical energy into electricity. Here, we propose an indirect thermoelectric conversion mechanism based on a combination of the thermophoresis and piezoelectric effects. We first analyze this thermally driven mechanism using a simplified theoretical model and then numerically analyze a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of a hybrid system constructed of a single-layer MoS2 nanoribbon and a concentric carbon nanotube. We show that the thermophoresis-induced piezoelectric output voltage can reach 3.5 V, and this value can be tuned using a temperature difference. The output voltage obtained using this mechanism is significantly higher than that obtained by heating piezoelectric materials directly. Given the generality of the thermophoresis effect in Van der Waals structures, this mechanism has potential applications in the conversion of thermal energy into electrical energy at the nanoscale level.
Highlights
The thermoelectric and piezoelectric effects, which, respectively, convert heat and mechanical energy into electricity, have attracted tremendous attention in the past few decades
The entire piezoelectric vibration system can be simplified into an oscillator model with an external driving force
Considering the mover carbon nanotubes (CNTs) mainly acts on the central region of the nanoribbon, a similar periodic driving force is applied to the central area of the atomic chain to serve as the nonequilibrium phonon-transport-induced thermal driving force
Summary
The thermoelectric and piezoelectric effects, which, respectively, convert heat and mechanical energy into electricity, have attracted tremendous attention in the past few decades. Has been observed in 2D materials such as h-BN nanoribbons [30] This conversion mechanism depends on direct heating to trigger the deflection of piezoelectric materials. Another promising mechanism called the thermophoresis effect, which converts thermal energy into mechanical energy, has been confirmed by theory [31, 32] and experiment [33] and has shown great potential for application in energy conversion [34]. We theoretically propose a thermoelectric conversion mechanism based on a combination of interface thermophoresis and piezoelectric effects. The mover CNT serves as the strain source for the 2D piezoelectric material to realize the thermally driven piezoelectric conversion
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