High Power Density, Lightweight Thermoelectric Metamaterials for Energy Harvesting

The high efficiency energy conversion of thermoelectric materials will directly benefit NASA funded mission because power and reliability requirements continue to increase for NASA applications, the need for has become a significant challenge, as reflected in NASA’s Grand Challenge of “Affordable and Abundant Power.” Thermoelectric (TE) devices represent a promising technology for many energy conversion applications. The technology will substantially increase the efficiency of thermoelectric generators, increase power generation from existing thermal sources and reduced thermoelectric generator weight. In addition to thermal conductivity tuning, the dielectric material is also the source of the weight reduction and high power density which are primary issues on most NASA missions. Experimental measurements will be obtained to provide relevant transport properties and power generation efficiency.

The lightweight thermoelectric metamaterials for energy harvesting will benefit NASA unfunded and planned missions by enabling the ability to harvest and utilize energy. The modular TE device boasts numerous benefits but is especially unique in its fuel source; namely, virtually any source of heat. A distinct advantage of thermal fuel sources is their fairly stable availability unlike the cyclic interruptions that often plague other alternative energy conversion technologies. For example, unused thermal sources are plentiful on advanced aerospace systems such as rocket engines, spacecraft electronics and general on-board flight systems. NASA has recognized this fact long ago and is not only a prime user of TE devices but a research collaborator on many TE projects. TE modules are also scalable meaning they may be assembled in tiny miniaturized form or grouped in arrays that cover large areas. The advent of autonomous swarms of sensor arrays in addition to isolated transducers and sensors require reliable power, an ideal application of TE modules that eliminates the need for batteries and/or external wiring from a remote power source. From the standpoint of high-tech systems in general, the need for cheap efficient reliable power applies equally well. future power generation systems should exhibit a high power density(watts per area and watts per mass), reduced weight and become a transformational enabling technology that delivers affordable and abundant power.

Benefits to the commercial space industry would be similar to those that benefit NASA, and correspondingly address the need for an inexpensive efficient reliable energy source.

Improving the efficiency of TE performance would benefit not only NASA but to other government agencies (Department of Defense, Homeland Security, etc.) that have the need to increase and improve the ability to harvest and utilize energy.