Ink-based thermoelectric tech offers refrigerant-free cooling
University of Notre Dame researchers have developed a low-cost, scalable ink-based printing method for thermoelectric materials, potentially replacing problematic refrigerants in cooling systems.
Traditional refrigerants used in air conditioners and refrigerators face issues such as leakage, emissions, flammability, and limited reclamation. A new study from the University of Notre Dame proposes thermoelectric technology as an environmentally friendly alternative, offering cooling with no moving parts and zero leaks.
The widespread adoption of thermoelectric cooling has been hindered by high manufacturing costs. However, researchers led by Yanliang Zhang have devised an innovative ink-based printing strategy that allows for scalable, low-cost production of high-performance thermoelectric materials and devices. These materials are beneficial for energy-efficient, localized cooling in various applications including electronics, medical devices, automobiles, data centers, and buildings.
The team utilizes simple printing techniques like blade coating or screen printing, similar to those used for T-shirt artwork. Their specialized ink contains silver and selenium, which form a silver selenide alloy—the thermoelectric material—after printing and post-processing. This ink is designed for compatibility with the printing process, ensuring ease of scalability.
The rapid reaction between silver and selenium powders to form the silver selenide alloy speeds up the manufacturing process, contributing to cost-effectiveness. The researchers optimized the alloy's composition to maximize thermoelectric performance. Testing revealed that the printed materials achieved competitive room-temperature performance for both P-type and N-type components, which are both necessary for a complete thermoelectric cooling device.
This development is significant as it addresses the environmental and logistical challenges of traditional refrigerants by leveraging additive manufacturing. The ink-based, screen-printing approach enables low-cost, scalable production of solid-state cooling devices, aligning with the broader trend of creating sustainable and efficient technologies across various industries, including electronics and potentially aerospace for in-situ cooling applications.
Edited by the news editor with AI from the original report — please refer to the original source.