Integration of nanostructured thermoelectric materials in micro power generators

Abstract

The demand for portable power generation required by miniaturized systems with long-lasting autonomous operation is large and expanding. In order to fulfill this demand, high-energy density storage and generation devices are required. Currently, batteries and micro fuel cells represent the technologies available for this purpose. However, true energy autonomy would eventually be better enabled by energy harvesting devices, either by themselves or in combination with storage devices (batteries or capacitors). In this respect, thermoelectric generators may lead to a quite enabling energy autonomy solution in those particular application scenarios in which waste heat or hot surface are available. This chapter serves as a brief introduction to the general principles of thermoelectricity and the state-of-theart of thermoelectric materials. An overview of the different efforts performed by the research community to develop thermoelectric devices and the implementation approaches followed to fabricate thermoelectric microgenerators based on nanostructured materials is presented.