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
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.