Polycrystalline Thermoelectric Materials with Observed Anisotropy

František Mihok; Viktor Puchý; Juraj Szabo; Beáta Ballóková; Róbert Džunda; Karel Saksl

doi:10.4028/p-15bSzd

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The Impact of Silver Nanoparticles on Small Intestine Cells and Oocytes Follicular Environment Cells in Female Mice
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Photoluminescent Registration of New Substances Based on Fullerite C₆₀ Obtained by Chemical Interaction with H₂ and N₂ Molecules
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Polycrystalline Thermoelectric Materials with Observed Anisotropy
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Gas Pressure Infiltration of Porous Ni-Al₂O₃-Al Compacts with Molten Aluminium
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Effect of Sintering Temperature on Copper Metallization of 3D-Printed Alumina
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High-Hardness Transparent Silicon Nitride Ceramic
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Transition Metal Phosphide-Based Membrane Electrode Assembly for Cost-Effective Production of H₂
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HomeMaterials Science ForumMaterials Science Forum Vol. 1179Polycrystalline Thermoelectric Materials with...

Polycrystalline Thermoelectric Materials with Observed Anisotropy

Abstract:

Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) are vital, reliable energy sources for both extreme environments such as deep space exploration and off-grid terrestrial applications, as well as emerging fields like wearable energy harvesters and biocompatible medical sensors. This study focuses on tin selenide (SnSe) combined with ductile silver sulfide (Ag₂S) to leverage their complementary properties: SnSe’s promising thermoelectric performance and mechanical robustness for homojunction TEGs, and Ag₂S’s exceptional ductility and thermal sensitivity ideal for flexible, biocompatible devices. Materials were synthesized using scalable powder metallurgy and spark plasma sintering (SPS) techniques, ensuring reproducibility and microstructural control tailored for these diverse applications. Our Bi-doped polycrystalline SnSe exhibits a unique polarity switching phenomenon and anisotropic behavior influenced by dopants (Bi, Ag, In), enabling optimized thermoelectric and mechanical properties that reduce interfacial stresses and enhance durability in harsh conditions. Meanwhile, the Ag₂S materials combine thermoelectric efficiency with fast thermal response and flexibility, suited for continuous physiological monitoring in wearable systems. The hybrid integration of SnSe homojunctions with flexible Ag₂S devices opens new possibilities for durable, efficient thermoelectric energy harvesting across wide temperature gradients in aerospace and biomedical fields.