Table 5 Thermoelectric generator based 3D printed energy harvesting devices, their output energy capacities and applications
Energy harvesting devices | Source of excitation | \(\Delta T\) | Materials | Performance | Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Flexible thermoelectric power generator | Electric heater | 30Â K | TE materials | 80Â mV | Wearable electronics |
Segmented thermoelectric generators | Ceramic heater | 236 °C | BiSbTe-based viscoelastic inks | 8.7% | Self-powered sensors |
Conformal cylindrical thermoelectric generators | Hot water flowing through alumina pipe | 39 °C | Bi2Te3-based inks | 1.62 mW | – |
3D printed SnSe thermoelectric generators | Thermoelectric tester | 772 K | Tin selenide (SnSe) | 20 µW | Solar cell applications |
A flexible and stretchable organic thermoelectric device | Heating controller | 75 K | Polyurethane/CNT nanocomposites | 19.8 ± 0.2 µV/K | – |
Shape-controllable thermoelectric devices | Heating rod | 54.6 K | Bi2Te3/(PVP) composites | 0.68 mW | – |
Self-healing and stretchable 3D-printed TE device | Body temperature | 7Â K | PEDOT: PSS | 12.2 nW | Flexible electronics |
Thick printed TE generator | Microelectronic heat sink | 40 °C | Bi2Te3-based TE ingot | 10 W/cm2 | Microelectronic applications |