Thermoelectric Generator-Based Power Generation

Abstract

We are dealing with issues like rising power costs, pollution in the environment, and global warming at the moment. Scientists are focusing on improving power generators that use energy harvesting to lessen their effects. Through the Seebeck effect, thermoelectric generators (TEGs) have demonstrated their capability of directly converting thermal energy into electrical energy. They can be fabricated on a variety of substrates, including silicon, polymers, and ceramics, and they operate silently due to the absence of mechanical structures or moving parts, making them environmentally friendly. In addition, TEGs can be incorporated into bulk and flexible devices because they are position-independent, have a long operating lifetime, and are suitable for this purpose. The working principle, types (planar, vertical, and mixed), used materials, figure of merit, improvement techniques, including different thermoelectric materials arrangement (conventional, segmented, and cascaded), used technologies, and substrate types (silicon, ceramics, and polymers) are all extensively discussed in this paper.