The structure design of Micro-thermoelectric Power Generator

A new type micro-thermoelectric power generator fabricated by nanowire array thermoelectric material

Wei Wang¹, Falong JIa¹, Jing Zhu¹, Jianzhong Zhang²

^{1Dept. of Applied Chem., School of Chem. Eng. and Tech., Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, P. R. China
^{2Tianjin Institute of Power Sources, Tianjin 300381, P. R. China}}

Miniaturized solid-state devices such as MEMS, micro-electrical system and even “system on a chip” are of interest for variety of space and terrestrial applications. For those micro-systems, micro-power sources with low power, high voltage output are necessary. In our Lab., a new type micro-thermoelectric power generator made of N-type and P-type Bi₂Te₃nanowire array thermoelectric materials has been designed and fabricated. With a film like configuration of thickness about 100 mm and area about 4 cm², the micro-thermoelectric power generator can give 1 V output voltage at room temperature and 5℃ temperature difference. The paper will present the details.