HYbrid organic-inorganic PERovskite THERMoelectrics

Project Information

HYPERTHERM

Grant agreement ID: 798271

DOI

10.3030/798271

Project closed

EC signature date 26 March 2018

Start date 4 February 2019

End date 3 February 2021

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 183 454,80

EU contribution

€ 183 454,80

Coordinated by

QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - HYPERTHERM (HYbrid organic-inorganic PERovskite THERMoelectrics)

Reporting period: 2019-02-04 to 2021-02-03

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Issue. Thermoelectric technology that allows the recovery of wasted heat at low temperatures is still in its infancy. One of the reasons for the slow take-up of thermoelectric technology is the manufacturing cost, which includes costly materials, waste, and cumbersome manufacturing processes. Additionally, the recovery of the heat below 100 °C is still ineffective. The project aimed to develop solution-processable thermoelectric materials, to yield highly efficient thermoelectric generators at a low-temperature regime.

Impact. The development of new high-performance materials could lead to the creation of efficient devices for transforming waste heat into electricity. Recycling this heat would make society more sustainable. The results obtained could also be exploited to design flexible thermal sensors to be integrated into e-skin (e.g. smart prosthesis). The study of charge transport phenomena in quasi-0D perovskites will provide new stimuli to the research sector.

Overall objectives. HYPERTHERM aimed to advance the quasi-0D hybrid perovskites by controlling their composition, doping and nanostructure. Moreover, the materials have been designed to be solution assembled, using easily accessible components, and deposited by automated printing processes with a high reduction of the manufacturing costs.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Work performed:
- Synthesis of single crystals of pristine and Sn-doped (CH3NH3)3Bi2I9.
- Deposition of compact thin films of pristine and Sn-doped (CH3NH3)3Bi2I9.
- Study of the charge confinement properties.
- Study of quasi-0D perovskites thermoelectric properties.
- Develop a methodology to obtain pellets from polycrystalline perovskite powders.
- Synthesis of S-doped (CH3NH3)3Bi2I9 single crystals.
- Study of ionic and electronic conduction in perovskite single crystals.
- Study of the thermochromic properties of quasi-0D perovskites.
- Design of ink deposition of doped quasi-0D perovskites.

Visibility was given to the project through participation in scientific symposia and conferences. The purpose and objectives explained to a broader audience through online seminars and educational videos. The results will be published in the open-access journal when the drafting of the manuscript is completed. The datasets publication in an open-access portal will follow the publication of the works.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Beyond the state of the art.
- The work demonstrated that quasi 0-dimensional perovskites could be doped to increase their electrical conductivity.
- A technique for obtaining compact thin films has been developed.
- The study of the optical properties in correlation with the reaction kinetics enriches the knowledge on quasi-0D perovskites.
- The straightforward synthesis of doped single crystals designed generates samples bigger than those reported in the literature.
- The excitonic peaks of the material were studied in single crystals and thin films. The conclusions reached enrich the knowledge of this class of materials.
- The synthesised S-doped single crystals help to understand the charge transport properties in these compounds.
- Substantial advances are proposed in the understanding of charge transport mechanisms in doped perovskites.
- The tested materials have generated Seebeck coefficients beyond the best expectations; further tests are underway to validate the result obtained.

Potential impacts.
- Creation of efficient devices for transforming waste heat at low-temperature regime into electricity. The consequences on the economy and daily life would be enormous. Energy savings would fall on transport, construction, industrial production, and regular daily consumption. The impact of a real application of thermoelectric to produce sustainable energy would be revolutionary.
- Design of flexible thermal sensors to be integrated into e-skin (e.g. smart prosthesis). Electronic skin is used in both medical and military sectors. Besides, extreme interest in flexible thermal sensors comes from the security and surveillance sector.
- The study of charge transport phenomena in quasi-0D perovskites will provide new stimuli to the research sector. The review of this class of materials is very young, and the applications are many (LED, laser, detector, super-capacitor, memristor); HYPERTHERM conclusions give a boost to the knowledge of these compounds.

Doped single crystals

Thermal evaporation deposition

Drop casting

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