Assessing thermoelectric membrane distillation performance: An experimental design approach

Thermoelectric membrane distillation has shown promise as a new membrane distillation technique capable of improving energy consumption metrics. This study features an experimental design approach to investigating the performance of a thermoelectric membrane distillation system. Screening and full factorial designs were implemented in Minitab 16 to determine the optimal process conditions for minimizing the specific energy consumption of the system. The process parameter with the most significant impact on the specific energy consumption of thermoelectric membrane distillation systems was determined and a mathematical model for predicting the specific energy consumption was derived. The study showed that adjusting the feed flowrate, the most influential continuous parameter, from a sub-optimal level to an optimal level, while keeping other process variables at their optimal levels, could lead to a 34% reduction in the system's specific energy consumption. At the optimized process parameters of the thermoelectric membrane distillation system, the minimized specific energy consumption fell about 35% below the threshold value of 1,000 kWh/m3 found among the efficient membrane distillation systems in the literature.•Thermoelectric heat exchanger provides the driving force for the membrane distillation process•Seven process variables are assumed to influence the energy consumption of the distillation process•The variables are screened before being analyzed in a full factorial experimental design.

Nanoscale inhomogeneity and the evolution of correlation strength in FeSe[Formula: see text]S[Formula: see text]

We report a comprehensive study of the nanoscale inhomogeneity and disorder on the thermoelectric properties of FeSe[Formula: see text]S[Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]) single crystals and the evolution of correlation strength with S substitution. A hump-like feature in temperature-dependent thermpower is enhanced for x = 0.12 and 0.14 in the nematic region with increasing in orbital-selective electronic correlations, which is strongly suppressed across the nematic critical point and for higher S content. Nanoscale Se/S atom disorder in the tetrahedral surroundings of Fe atoms is confirmed by scanning transmission electron microscopy measurements, providing an insight into the nanostructural details and the evolution of correlation strength in FeSe[Formula: see text]S[Formula: see text].

Environmental implications of combustion of rice husk at high temperatures and for an extended period for energy generation

The most common alternative for the management and valorization of rice processing waste is the combustion of rice husk (RH) for energy generation. The environmental risk assessment of the ash generated during the combustion of the RH to obtain energy has remained understudied. Disposal of rice husk ash (RHA) on agricultural land is the most common outcome, which could pose a risk to both natural ecosystems and human health. The objective of this study was to characterize the physicochemical composition and the phytotoxicity, cytotoxicity, and genotoxicity of RHA obtained from three distinct combustion processes. The evaluation processes were 800-900 °C in up to 5 min (I), 800-900 °C in 15-20 min (II), and 600-700 °C in 15-20 min (III). Furthermore, the content, pH, and concentrations of Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, and Ti present in the ashes were determined. The germination index for two vegetable seeds was subsequently evaluated. By measuring the mitotic index and frequency of chromosomal aberrations, the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity were determined. It was observed that RHA produced by combustion of RH at higher combustion temperatures for an extended period exhibited different physicochemical properties, in addition to higher levels of phytotoxicity, cytotoxicity, and genotoxicity.

Large Spin-Dependent Thermoelectric Effects in NiFe-based Interconnected Nanowire Networks

NiFe alloy and NiFe/Cu multilayered nanowire (NW) networks were grown using a template-assisted electrochemical synthesis method. The NiFe alloy NW networks exhibit large thermopower, which is largely preserved in the current perpendicular-to-plane geometry of the multilayered NW structure. Giant magneto-thermopower (MTP) effects have been demonstrated in multilayered NiFe/Cu NWs with a value of 25% at 300 K and reaching 60% around 100 K. A large spin-dependent Seebeck coefficient of -12.3 μV/K was obtained at room temperature. The large MTP effects demonstrate a magnetic approach to control thermoelectric properties of flexible devices based on NW networks.

Possible Routes for Efficient Thermo-Electric Energy Conversion in a Molecular Junction

In the context of designing an efficient thermoelectric energy-conversion device at nanoscale level, we suggest several important tuning parameters to enhance the performance of thermoelectric converters. We consider a simple molecular junction, which is always helpful to understand the basic mechanisms in a deeper way, where a benzene molecule is coupled to two external baths having unequal temperatures. The key component responsible for achieving better performance is associated with the asymmetric nature of transmission function, and in the present work, we show that it can be implemented in different ways by regulating the physical parameters involving the system. Employing a tight-binding framework we calculate electrical and thermal conductances, thermopower, and figure of merit (FOM) by using Landauer integrals, and thoroughly examine the critical roles played by molecule-to-lead (ML) interface geometry, magnetic field, chemical substituent group, ML coupling, and the direct coupling between the two leads. Our results show that a reasonably large FOM (≫1) can be obtained and lead to a possibility of regulating the efficiency by selectively tuning the physical parameters. We believe that the present analysis will enhance the understanding of designing efficient thermoelectric devices, and can be verified in a laboratory.

Direct Probe of the Seebeck Coefficient in a Kondo-Correlated Single-Quantum-Dot Transistor

We report on the first measurement of the Seebeck coefficient in a tunnel-contacted and gate-tunable individual single-quantum dot junction in the Kondo regime, fabricated using the electromigration technique. This fundamental thermoelectric parameter is obtained by directly monitoring the magnitude of the voltage induced in response to a temperature difference across the junction, while keeping a zero net tunneling current through the device. In contrast to bulk materials and single molecules probed in a scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) configuration, investigating the thermopower in nanoscale electronic transistors benefits from the electric tunability to showcase prominent quantum effects. Here, striking sign changes of the Seebeck coefficient are induced by varying the temperature, depending on the spin configuration in the quantum dot. The comparison with numerical renormalization group (NRG) calculations demonstrates that the tunneling density of states is generically asymmetric around the Fermi level in the leads, both in the cotunneling and Kondo regimes.

Thermoelectric Properties of Hot-Pressed Bi-Doped n-Type Polycrystalline SnSe

ᅟ: We report on the successful preparation of Bi-doped n-type polycrystalline SnSe by hot-press method. We observed anisotropic transport properties due to the (h00) preferred orientation of grains along the pressing direction. The electrical conductivity perpendicular to the pressing direction is higher than that parallel to the pressing direction, 12.85 and 6.46 S cm^-1 at 773 K for SnSe:Bi 8% sample, respectively, while thermal conductivity perpendicular to the pressing direction is higher than that parallel to the pressing direction, 0.81 and 0.60 W m^-1 K^-1 at 773 K for SnSe:Bi 8% sample, respectively. We observed a bipolar conducting mechanism in our samples leading to n- to p-type transition, whose transition temperature increases with Bi concentration. Our work addressed a possibility to dope polycrystalline SnSe by a hot-pressing process, which may be applied to module applications.

HIGHLIGHTS

1. We have successfully achieved Bi-doped n-type polycrystalline SnSe by the hot-press method. 2. We observed anisotropic transport properties due to the [h00] preferred orientation of grains along pressing direction. 3. We observed a bipolar conducting mechanism in our samples leading to n- to p-type transition.

Thermoelectric La-doped SrTiO3 epitaxial layers with single-crystal quality: from nano to micrometers

High-quality thermoelectric La_0.2Sr_0.8TiO₃ (LSTO) films, with thicknesses ranging from 20 nm to 0.7 μm, have been epitaxially grown on SrTiO₃(001) substrates by enhanced solid-source oxide molecular-beam epitaxy. All films are atomically flat (with rms roughness < 0.2 nm), with low mosaicity (<0.1°), and present very low electrical resistivity (<5 × 10^-4 Ω cm at room temperature), one order of magnitude lower than standard commercial Nb-doped SrTiO₃ single-crystalline substrate. The conservation of transport properties within this thickness range has been confirmed by thermoelectric measurements where Seebeck coefficients of approximately -60 μV/K have been recorded for all films. These LSTO films can be integrated on Si for non-volatile memory structures or opto-microelectronic devices, functioning as transparent conductors or thermoelectric elements.

Strain-induced electronic band convergence: effect on the Seebeck coefficient of Mg2Si for thermoelectric applications

The present theoretical study, performed using density-functional theory and Boltzmann transport theory formalisms, shows that under 2.246 % isotropic tensile strain, the two energy-lowest conduction bands of Mg₂Si overlap. The two, threefold-degenerated orbitals become a unique, sixfold-degenerated orbital. It is demonstrated that such degeneracy implies an increase of the Seebeck coefficient, of the electrical conductivity, of the power factor, and in fine of the figure of merit.

Development of a Small Thermoelectric Generators Prototype for Energy Harvesting from Low Temperature Waste Heat at Industrial Plant

A 39-W thermoelectric generator prototype has been realized and then installed in industrial plant for on-line trials. The prototype was developed as an energy harvesting demonstrator using low temperature cooling water waste heat as energy source. The objective of the research program is to measure the actual performances of this kind of device working with industrial water below 90 °C, as hot source, and fresh water at a temperature of about 15 °C, as cold sink. The article shows the first results of the research program. It was verified, under the tested operative conditions, that the produced electric power exceeds the energy required to pump the water from the hot source and cold sink to the thermoelectric generator unit if they are located at a distance not exceeding 50 m and the electric energy conversion efficiency is 0.33%. It was calculated that increasing the distance of the hot source and cold sink to the thermoelectric generator unit to 100 m the produced electric energy equals the energy required for water pumping, while reducing the distance of the hot source and cold sink to zero meters the developed unit produces an electric energy conversion efficiency of 0.61%.

Effect of Silicon Nitride/Oxide on the Structure and the Thermal Conductivity of CoSi Nanocomposites

In this work, the fabrication of nanocomposites with silicon nitride/oxide into the thermoelectric matrix of cobalt silicide is presented. The different concentrations of nano-Si₃N₄ were intentionally introduced by mechanical grinding while it was found that the nanocomposites also included SiO₂ phase at micro- as well as at nano-scale. The structural and morphological modifications of the materials were studied by powder X-ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy. The nanocomposites were studied in terms of Hall Effect, Seebeck coefficient, electrical and thermal conductivity. Emphasis is given on the lattice thermal conductivity that was analyzed based on Effective Medium Theory and the contribution of each phase is taken into account.

Synthesis and Characterization of Bulk Nanostructured Thermoelectric Ca₃Co₄O₉

Nanostructuring has been proposed as an effective strategy for the reduction of the phonon contribution to the thermal conductivity, resulting in an increase in the figure of merit of thermoelectric materials. However, obtaining bulk samples presenting high relative density and nanometric grain size can be quite challenging, particularly in the case of ceramic phases. Only few examples have been reported and none in the case of Ca₃Co₄O₉. In this work, we used a sol–gel synthesis coupled with ball milling to prepare powders of Ca₃Co₄O₉ presenting a grain size as small as 4 nm. These nanopowders were then sintered at different temperature and pressures using the High-Pressure Field-Assisted Sintering Technique (HP-FAST). Relative densities up to 95 vol% where obtained while maintaining a nanometric grain size. The microstructural and electrical properties of the sintered samples have been characterized. The results show that in this oxide a reduction to the nanometric grain size produces a drastic reduction in the electrical conductivity, which cannot be compensated by the reduction in the thermal conductivity. The Seebeck effect, on the other hand, appears to be affected only marginally by the grain size and porosity.

Thermopower of benzenedithiol and C60 molecular junctions with Ni and Au electrodes

We have performed thermoelectric measurements of benzenedithiol (BDT) and C60 molecules with Ni and Au electrodes using a home-built scanning tunneling microscope. The thermopower of C60 was negative for both Ni and Au electrodes, indicating the transport of carriers through the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital in both cases, as was expected from the work functions. On the other hand, the Ni-BDT-Ni junctions exhibited a negative thermopower, whereas the Au-BDT-Au junctions exhibited a positive thermopower. First-principle calculations revealed that the negative thermopower of Ni-BDT-Ni junctions is due to the spin-split hybridized states generated by the highest occupied molecular orbital of BDT coupled with s- and d-states of the Ni electrode.

La 1-x Ca x MnO 3 semiconducting nanostructures: morphology and thermoelectric properties

Semiconducting metallic oxides, especially perosvkite materials, are great candidates for thermoelectric applications due to several advantages over traditionally metallic alloys such as low production costs and high chemical stability at high temperatures. Nanostructuration can be the key to develop highly efficient thermoelectric materials. In this work, La 1-x Ca x MnO 3 perosvkite nanostructures with Ca as a dopant have been synthesized by the hydrothermal method to be used in thermoelectric applications at room temperature. Several heat treatments have been made in all samples, leading to a change in their morphology and thermoelectric properties. The best thermoelectric efficiency has been obtained for a Ca content of x=0.5. The electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient are strongly related to the calcium content.