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ISSN Online: 2379-1748

ISBN Flash Drive: 978-1-56700-469-4

ISBN Online: 978-1-56700-470-0

Second Thermal and Fluids Engineering Conference
April, 2-5, 2017, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Fabrication of Bi2Te3-based Thermoelectric Modules by Thermal and Laser Assisted Ink Dispensing Printing Technology

Get access (open in a dialog) pages 2539-2543
DOI: 10.1615/TFEC2017.ist.017776

Abstract

We have demonstrated that the hybrid additive process coupled with laser machining can be an efficient route towards manufacturing the directly integrated thermoelectric generator (TEG) devices. While we have relied on the thermal spray technology for deposition of robust film materials, it has limitation in spraying thermoelectric materials of high efficiency such as bismuth-telluride. In this work, we first developed a new composite ink material which is composed of thermoelectric powders and polymer binder and measured promising thermoelectric properties from it. By utilizing the developed material, a small TEG module that consisted of single pair Bi2Te3 legs was fabricated with the assist of metal mask and furnace. In order to make the manufacturing process mask-free, additive manufacturing technique named laser-assisted ink dispensing (LAID) is under development. This technique can potentially print TE legs under ambient environment and low temperature by laser-assisted curing and sintering as we briefly summarize laser-sintering activities as well.