Abstract
Thermoelectric devices that are flexible and optically transparent hold unique promise for future electronics. However, development of invisible thermoelectric elements is hindered by the lack of p-type transparent thermoelectric materials. Here we present the superior room-temperature thermoelectric performance of p-type transparent copper iodide (CuI) thin films. Large Seebeck coefficients and power factors of the obtained CuI thin films are analysed based on a single-band model. The low-thermal conductivity of the CuI films is attributed to a combined effect of the heavy element iodine and strong phonon scattering. Accordingly, we achieve a large thermoelectric figure of merit of ZT=0.21 at 300 K for the CuI films, which is three orders of magnitude higher compared with state-of-the-art p-type transparent materials. A transparent and flexible CuI-based thermoelectric element is demonstrated. Our findings open a path for multifunctional technologies combing transparent electronics, flexible electronics and thermoelectricity.
Highlights
Thermoelectric devices that are flexible and optically transparent hold unique promise for future electronics
Due to the lack of highly conductive p-type transparent conductor (TC), recent research has focused on thermoelectric properties of n-type TCs including heavily doped ZnO, In2O3 and SrTiO3
P-type TCs usually exhibit poor electrical conductivities s, which are several orders of magnitude smaller than those of n-type TCs, leading to poor thermoelectric performance at room temperature, for example, ZT B0.001 for CuAlO2 and ZT B0.002 for CuCrO2
Summary
Thermoelectric devices that are flexible and optically transparent hold unique promise for future electronics. We present the superior room-temperature thermoelectric performance of p-type transparent copper iodide (CuI) thin films. Few optically transparent (Eg43 eV) thermoelectric devices are known to exist, whereas realization of such invisible devices could open new fields in a range of novel applications such as smart windows (or screens) with energy harvesting, cooling and thermal sensing functionalities Another potential application of transparent thermoelectric elements is the fast on-chip cooling and power recovery[7,8] for optoelectronic devices including solar cells, infrared photodetectors, as well as fully transparent electronic devices. We focus on the room-temperature thermoelectric performances of copper iodide (CuI) thin films, since CuI in its ground-state phase was recently reported as a high performance p-type TC material[15,16,17]. A prototype of CuI-based transparent and flexible thermoelectric module is demonstrated
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
