E-Thesis 12 views
Additive Layer Manufacturing of Next Generation Thermoelectric Materials / GERAINT HOWELLS
Swansea University Author: GERAINT HOWELLS
DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUThesis.71457
Abstract
The inevitable impact of climate change, coupled with the decreasing supply of fossil fuels have highlighted the need for a transition to more sustainable and efficient energy sources. Current technologies including wind and solar can produce the majority of the energy needed, but these rely on exter...
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Swansea University
2025
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| Institution: | Swansea University |
| Degree level: | Doctoral |
| Degree name: | EngD |
| Supervisor: | Carnie, M. J., and Lavery, N. |
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71457 |
| Abstract: |
The inevitable impact of climate change, coupled with the decreasing supply of fossil fuels have highlighted the need for a transition to more sustainable and efficient energy sources. Current technologies including wind and solar can produce the majority of the energy needed, but these rely on external factors such as the weather, thus the transition requires a diverse mixture of technologies. To further highlight the need for more efficient energy production, during the generation of energy in industrial processes, such as those found in steel-making approximately 66% of this energy is lost as waste heat.Thermoelectric materials, can take advantage of this waste heat, and increase the overall efficiency of the system in which it stems from by increasing the amount of useful electric per unit of fuel used. Thermoelectric materials are solid state devices, which can convert waste heat directly into electricity by utilising the Seebeck effect. Current thermoelectric materials include elements that are toxic and scarce, whilst the production methods for large scale manufacturing is expensive, both of these factors increase the inherent cost of making thermoelectric materials. This means there is a need for new material and production methods research.This thesis explores tin selenide (SnSe), which is a promising thermoelectric material due to its high figure of merit, offering a potential pathway for waste heat recovery in both industrial and domestic applications. However, at the moment it is only made at laboratory scale using expensive methods. Printing of thermoelectrics, including those made from SnSe can offer a cheap and easily scalable way of production.This thesis is split between two sections, with the first four technical chapters looking at suitable binders for making SnSe thermoelectrics in a pseudo-3D printing and casting fashion. The second part includes the work in the fifth and final technical chapter, where a SnSe based thermoelectric generator prototype was manufactured, achieving peak power outputs of 2.2 mW and 1.6 mW for a single leg and twenty seven leg set up, respectively; making this the highest power output of any reported printed SnSe based thermoelectric generator to date. |
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| Keywords: |
Thermoelectrics, TEG, Tin-Selenide, SnSe, Printed, Prototype |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
M2A, CoatedM2A, EPSRC, UKRI, Tata steel |