Environmentally Friendly Thermoelectric Conversion Sheet by Controlling Quantum Transport in Narrow-Gap Semiconductors

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H01358
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 21050:Electric and electronic materials-related
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: Toko Kaoru 筑波大学, 数理物質系, 准教授 (30611280)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 半導体

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Flexible thermoelectric conversion sheets, which are thin films of thermoelectric materials synthesized on light and soft plastics, are expected to be applied to sensors and wearable devices that utilize micro energy, which is indispensable in the IoT society. For their social implementation, it is important to select eco-materials that are non-toxic, safe, and highly reliable. In this study, we focused on thermoelectric thin films of Ge-based group IV crystals, which are narrow-gap environmental semiconductors, and developed low-temperature synthesis technology to achieve the highest level of performance as environmentally friendly thermoelectric conversion sheets.

Free Research Field

半導体

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

高度情報化社会におけるエネルギーの確保のため、身の回りの熱を電気に変換する熱電発電の技術が注目されている。環境調和型材料を用いて高性能なフレキシブル熱電変換シートを実証した点に、本研究の社会的意義がある。また、IV族系混晶半導体材料の結晶性と熱電特性の相関が実験的に明らかにされたことは学術的に特筆すべき点であり、トランジスタや太陽電池など他分野への応用も期待される。