Volume 52

Enhancing the Power Output of a Thermoelectric Generator through Flexible Composite Substrates and by Improving the Structural Design of a Heteromorphic Electrode Dessalegn Abera Waktole, Boru Jia, Wei Wang, Zhengxing Zuo, Hejia Wang

Abstract

An advanced composite substrate for the thermoelectric generator is prepared to enhance optical-thermal performance. The process includes precise blending of polydimethylsiloxane, graphene, curing agent, and ethyl acetate. Experimental validation and simulation-based studies through COMSOL Multiphysics software version 5.6 are conducted to ensure precise designs, yielding top-notch substrates for efficient thermoelectric generator applications. The numerical simulations highlight the significance of heteromorphic electrode configurations, with the triangular structure exhibiting a higher power density of 195.168 μW/cm².
This research scrutinizes the scientific basis for adopting this composite substrate through experimental tests. The surface morphology is thoroughly analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, while Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy is utilized to evaluate the composite substrate’s sunlight absorbance for energy harvesting purposes. Additionally, hot wire techniques are employed to precisely quantify thermal conductivity, thus confirming the substrate’s effectiveness in enhancing thermoelectric efficiency.

Keywords composite substrate, energy harvesting, optimization, thermoelectric generator, performance evaluation