Thermal-to-electric energy conversion (TEEC) materials of higher energy conversion efficiencies are desirable for the development of better energy harvesting systems, especially for the low-grade heat (LGH) sources. Conventional thermoelectric materials are usually based on the Seebeck effect, i.e. as electrons move from the high-temperature areas to the low-temperature areas, currents can be formed and, thus, electric powers are generated. Recently, intensive studies have been carried out on semiconductive superlattices and nanowires, which, compared with their bulk counterparts, are of relatively high electric conductivity and relatively low thermal conductivity. However, the high figure of merit, ZT, of a supperlattice/nanowire is achieved via various size confinement effects, and the electron motions occur in the interior of the material. Therefore, the dominant characteristic of a nanostructured material, the ultrahigh surface/interface area, cannot be directly utilized.In view of the above considerations, we performed an experimental study on nanoporous materials based on the novel capacitive effect. The thermal sensitivity of output voltage could be higher than 1 mV/oC. It was also shown that the mechanical-to-electric energy conversion (MEEC) phenomenon of similar nanoporous materials can be quite pronounced as a liquid phase flew through the electrodes.

Converting mechanical energy and thermal energy to electricity in nanopores

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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