The new self-powered thermoelectric generator device uses an ultra-broadband solar absorber (UBSA) to capture sunlight, which heats the generator. Simultaneously, another component called a planar radiative cooling emitter (RCE) cools part of the device by releasing heat.
CREDIT: Haoyuan Cai, Jimei University
Thermoelectric generator could provide reliable power for outdoor sensors or wearable electronics
Researchers have developed a new thermoelectric generator (TEG) that can continuously generate electricity using heat from the sun and a radiative element that releases heat into the air. Because it works during the day or night and in cloudy conditions, the new self-powered TEG could provide a reliable power source for small electronic devices such as outdoor sensors.
“Traditional power sources like batteries are limited in capacity and require regular replacement or recharging, which can be inconvenient and unsustainable,” said research team leader Jing Liu from Jimei University in China. “Our new TEG design could offer a sustainable and continuous energy solution for small devices, addressing the constraints of traditional power sources like batteries.”
TEGs are solid state devices that use temperature differences to generate electricity without any moving parts. In the Optica Publishing Group journal Optics Express, Liu and a multi-institutional team of researchers describe and demonstrate a new TEG that can simultaneously generate the heat and cold necessary to create a temperature difference large enough to generate electricity even when the sun isn’t out. The passive power source is made of components that can easily be manufactured.
“The unique design of our self-powered thermoelectric generator allows it to work continuously, no matter the weather,” said Liu. “With further development, our TEG has the potential to impact a wide range of applications, from remote sensors to wearable electronics, promoting a more sustainable and eco-friendly approach to powering our daily lives.”
Boosting TEG performance
When a thermoelectric material experiences a temperature gradient, electrons will flow from the hot portion to the cold portion, generating an electric current. Although TEGs based on this phenomenon exist, they tend to produce unstable temperature differences and don’t generate enough electricity to be useful.
To address these limitations, the researchers developed a new type of TEG. It uses a component called an ultra-broadband solar absorber (UBSA) to capture sunlight, which heats one side of the generator. Simultaneously, another component called a planar radiative cooling emitter (RCE) cools down the other side by releasing heat. Both the UBSA and RCE can be applied to a flexible substrate, which could be useful for powering wearable devices, for example.
Because the heating power of the UBSA is significantly greater than the cooling power of the RCE under normal sunlight intensity, the researchers placed the RCE on top of an UBSA with a larger area. When sunlight hits the entire device, the unshaded parts of UBSA absorb the sun’s energy to heat up while the RCE on top begins to cool. The combination of heating and cooling creates a temperature difference that is converted into electricity.
At night or on cloudy days, the temperature difference is significantly reduced due to the absence of direct sunlight. However, there is still some temperature difference that can be utilized to generate electricity, albeit at a lower efficiency compared to a sunny day.
Generating power at night
To test the device, the researchers conducted outdoor experiments under different weather conditions. They monitored the voltage output of the device and found that it could generate electricity continuously throughout the day and night and during cloudy daylight conditions. The device achieved a peak voltage output of 166.2 mV during clear daytime conditions, enough to power a small sensor or device. During clear nighttime and cloudy daytime conditions, it generated 14.7 mV and 95 mV, respectively.
“Our innovative method for combining solar heating with radiative cooling allows the TEG to generate electricity that is uninterrupted,” said research team member Haoyuan Cai. “This could improve access to critical services, particularly in remote or underdeveloped areas where traditional power sources are not available.”
The researchers are now working to further optimize the device’s efficiency, durability and scalability and plan to test its long-term stability and reliability under various conditions. They also want to explore the potential for mass production at a reasonable cost and make improvements in the device’s performance and adaptability to different applications.
Original Article: New passive device continuously generates electricity during the day or night
More from: Jimei University
The Latest Updates from Bing News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Thermoelectric generator
- NASA prepares to send Dune 'thopter to another world
This month, NASA confirmed Dragonfly had received its budget request for 2025, meaning the $3.3-billion mission is on track for a launch date of July 2028. After that, the immense distance to Saturn ...
- Nasa engineers bring Voyager 1 back to life after interstellar glitch
After a sudden loss of contact in November, mission controllers were able to reestablish contact with the probe across 15bn miles of space ...
- NASA manages to fix Voyager's garbled data problem, even though it's more than 15 billion miles away
Powered by a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG), it continued to send back data to Earth and in 2012, it crossed the heliopause and officially entered interstellar space. It's fair to say ...
- From Nuclear Shadows To Celestial Rays: Navigating The Evolution Of Power – Unravelling The Pioneering Visions
Ever imagined charging your phone just by being outdoors? Welcome to the future of wireless power, not just on Earth but extending into the vastness of space!
- NASA Works To Restore Voyager 1 Engineering Data Transmissions
The Voyager 2 and 1 missions were launched from Cape Canaveralon Aug. 20 and Sept. 5, 1977, respectively, to explore Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune before departing the Solar System. Voyager 1 ...
Go deeper with Bing News on:
TEGs
- Hybrid system combining CPV, ionic thermocells achieves 49.63% energy efficiency
TEGs can convert heat into electricity through the “Seebeck effect,” which occurs when a temperature difference between two different semiconductors produces a voltage difference between two ...
- Nigerian Billionaire Abdul Samad Rabiu Kicks Off N250 Million Project
The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa, an initiative by Abdul Samad Rabiu, Chairman of BUA Group is constructing a N250 million sports complex for the University of Jos.
- ASR Africa Kicks Off Construction Of N250m Samad Rabiu Sport Complex For University Of Jos
The Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa), the philanthropic initiative of the Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, has kicked off the construction of the N250 million sports complex for the ...
- Rabiu Africa Initiative launches N250m sports complex project in UNIJOS
Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa), the philanthropic initiative of the Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, has ...
- ASR Africa kicks off construction of N250 million Abdulsamad Rabiu sports complex in UNIJOS
The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa), the philanthropic initiative of the Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu (CFR, CON), has kicked off the construction of the N250 million ...