Joining and coating of thermoelectrics

Thermoelectric materials have the ability through the Seebeck effect of generating electrical energy in response to a temperature gradient. Power plants, automotive exhaust and industrial processes all create an enormous amount of unused wasted heat that could be converted to electricity with efficient thermoelectric devices.

Current prototype devices using these materials are usually operated at relatively low temperatures (<500 °C) to avoid degradation and oxidation. If they could be used at higher temperatures, their efficiency would improve [1].

We study and test new joining techniques and oxidation protective coatings for thermoelectric devices which can potentially operate at temperatures ≥ 500°C.

People: Milena Salvo; Federico Smeacetto; Valentina Casalegno; Fabiana D’Isanto

[1] Ning H.; Reece M. J.; Smeacetto F.; Salvo M. (2016), Oxidation protective glass-ceramic coating for higher manganese silicide thermoelectrics, J. Mater. Sci., 51 [20], pp. 9484-9489.