Sustainable Thermoelectric Modules based on Non-toxic Silicides and Sulphides for Recovery of Waste Heat to Power Generation - THERMOSS

Project summary

The core concept of this proposal is to develop and deliver new energy harvesting thermoelectric materials and modules based on n-Mg2X(X:Si,Sn) and p-Cu12-x(Co,Ni,Zn)xSb4S13-zSez systems. These systems are advantageous, exhibiting many attractive characteristics, such as: (i) high ZT (≥1.0), (ii) operational in a medium temperature range, important for waste heat recovery, (iii) made from widely-available pure materials with large EU supply chains, (iv) low raw material cost, (v) are nontoxic. Focus will be put on the materials/modules design/synthesis, optimization, properties and characterization as well as the investigation of possible applications. Specific research objectives are (a) optimized synthesis of cost-effective highly efficient TE materials with ZT ≥1.0 at 350˚C; (b) modeling of modules and development of a prototype; (d) explore potential applications (cement industry and automotive).