Title: Sustainable Thermoelectric Materials with Biopolymers and Earth-Abundant Inorganic Composites
Research proposal No: 1.1.1.9/LZP/1/24/043
Duration: 01.02.2025.-31.01.2028.
Project Leader: Ph.D. Bejan Hamawandi
Total budget: 184 140 EUR
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funding: 156 519 EUR
ISSP UL budget: 9 207 EUR
Project description:
The aim of the project is to develop next-generation composite thermoelectric (TE) materials and devices using sustainable biopolymers and inorganic materials, focusing on advanced materials and nanotechnology. The main activities include the creation of diverse TE composites, the fabrication of TE layers and structures using various printing techniques and conducting simulations before the production of TE devices. The expected outcomes include efficient TE materials, improved resource efficiency, TE devices for sensors and biomedical applications, and achieving a TRL of 4+ for the final devices. The total project cost is EUR 184,140.00, with planned support from the European Regional Development Fund of EUR 156,519.00, and the duration is 36 months (01.02.2025 - 31.01.2028). The project will develop new TE composite systems based on n- and p-type TE materials, such as (Cu2-xSe, Cu2-xS, SnSe, ZnS, Ag2Se, TiS2, FeS, etc.) as fillers embedded in environmentally friendly organic natural polymers, such as cellulose, lignin, and chitosan polymers. The main goal is to evaluate the scalability of inorganic nanostructured materials using chemical solution methods and large-scale microwave synthesis. The inorganic system of the composite material will be produced by embedding inorganic materials in an environmentally friendly organic matrix, which will be applied to large surfaces for TE transport evaluation and used to create a TE generator (TEG) prototype using a 3D extrusion printer. The originality of the project lies in the concept of composite materials, enhancing the sustainability and electronic adaptability of TE materials to recover low-grade waste heat.
PROJECT PROGRESS
Time period: 01.02.2025. – 31.07.2025.
During this period of the project, the necessary materials and training were provided. Progress was made in developing composite thermoelectric (TE) materials, with a focus on synthesizing and characterizing TE materials.
Nanostructured TE materials such as Bismuth telluride (Bi₂Te₃), antimony telluride (Sb₂Te₃), tin selenide (SnSe), and copper iodide (CuI) were synthesized using solution chemical methods, using water and polyalcohol as solvents.
MW-assisted heating is used with the solution synthesis method to reduce reaction time, reduce energy consumption, reproduce identical materials phases, and increase the crystallinity with high yield of the produced materials.
As-made TE materials were characterized using various techniques, including structural analysis with X-ray diffraction (XRD), morphological evaluation through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and absorption spectroscopy via temperature-dependent X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) measurements.
TE transport measurements (Seebeck and electrical conductivity) were performed on the samples to verify their performance.
As part of the mobility scheme, I had the opportunity to visit KTH Royal Institute of Technology for collaboration and sample preparation.
A research proposal for synchrotron measurements in Autumn 2025 at the DESY PETRA-III synchrotron facility in Germany has been written and submitted.
An abstract was submitted to the ECT2025 (21st European Conference on Thermoelectrics) in September 2025 and accepted for oral presentation.
A research paper on enhancing the performance of thermoelectric generators, guided by simulation, is being prepared for submission soon.