A semi-transparent thermoelectric glazing nanogenerator with aluminium doped zinc oxide and copper iodide thin films

Abstract To address the pressing need for reducing building energy consumption and combating climate change, thermoelectric glazing (TEGZ) presents a promising solution. This technology harnesses waste heat from buildings and converts it into electricity, while maintaining comfortable indoor tempera...

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Main Authors: Mustafa Majid Rashak Al-Fartoos, Anurag Roy, Tapas K. Mallick, Asif Ali Tahir
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-10-01
Series:Communications Engineering
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s44172-024-00291-4
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author Mustafa Majid Rashak Al-Fartoos
Anurag Roy
Tapas K. Mallick
Asif Ali Tahir
author_facet Mustafa Majid Rashak Al-Fartoos
Anurag Roy
Tapas K. Mallick
Asif Ali Tahir
author_sort Mustafa Majid Rashak Al-Fartoos
collection DOAJ
description Abstract To address the pressing need for reducing building energy consumption and combating climate change, thermoelectric glazing (TEGZ) presents a promising solution. This technology harnesses waste heat from buildings and converts it into electricity, while maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures. Here, we developed a TEGZ using cost-effective materials, specifically aluminium-doped zinc oxide (AZO) and copper iodide (CuI). Both AZO and CuI exhibit a high figure of merit (ZT), a key indicator of thermoelectric efficiency, with values of 1.37 and 0.72, respectively, at 340 K, demonstrating their strong potential for efficient heat-to-electricity conversion. Additionally, we fabricated an AZO-CuI based TEGZ prototype (5 × 5 cm²), incorporating eight nanogenerators, each producing 32 nW at 340 K. Early testing of the prototype showed a notable temperature differential of 22.5 °C between the outer and inner surfaces of the window glazing. These results suggest TEGZ could advance building energy efficiency, offering a futuristic approach to sustainable build environment.
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publishDate 2024-10-01
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spelling doaj-art-e56a2c25db2c47fa93c63d9e6ba1167c2025-08-20T02:17:47ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Engineering2731-33952024-10-013111310.1038/s44172-024-00291-4A semi-transparent thermoelectric glazing nanogenerator with aluminium doped zinc oxide and copper iodide thin filmsMustafa Majid Rashak Al-Fartoos0Anurag Roy1Tapas K. Mallick2Asif Ali Tahir3Solar Energy Research Group, Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of ExeterSolar Energy Research Group, Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of ExeterSolar Energy Research Group, Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of ExeterSolar Energy Research Group, Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of ExeterAbstract To address the pressing need for reducing building energy consumption and combating climate change, thermoelectric glazing (TEGZ) presents a promising solution. This technology harnesses waste heat from buildings and converts it into electricity, while maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures. Here, we developed a TEGZ using cost-effective materials, specifically aluminium-doped zinc oxide (AZO) and copper iodide (CuI). Both AZO and CuI exhibit a high figure of merit (ZT), a key indicator of thermoelectric efficiency, with values of 1.37 and 0.72, respectively, at 340 K, demonstrating their strong potential for efficient heat-to-electricity conversion. Additionally, we fabricated an AZO-CuI based TEGZ prototype (5 × 5 cm²), incorporating eight nanogenerators, each producing 32 nW at 340 K. Early testing of the prototype showed a notable temperature differential of 22.5 °C between the outer and inner surfaces of the window glazing. These results suggest TEGZ could advance building energy efficiency, offering a futuristic approach to sustainable build environment.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44172-024-00291-4
spellingShingle Mustafa Majid Rashak Al-Fartoos
Anurag Roy
Tapas K. Mallick
Asif Ali Tahir
A semi-transparent thermoelectric glazing nanogenerator with aluminium doped zinc oxide and copper iodide thin films
Communications Engineering
title A semi-transparent thermoelectric glazing nanogenerator with aluminium doped zinc oxide and copper iodide thin films
title_full A semi-transparent thermoelectric glazing nanogenerator with aluminium doped zinc oxide and copper iodide thin films
title_fullStr A semi-transparent thermoelectric glazing nanogenerator with aluminium doped zinc oxide and copper iodide thin films
title_full_unstemmed A semi-transparent thermoelectric glazing nanogenerator with aluminium doped zinc oxide and copper iodide thin films
title_short A semi-transparent thermoelectric glazing nanogenerator with aluminium doped zinc oxide and copper iodide thin films
title_sort semi transparent thermoelectric glazing nanogenerator with aluminium doped zinc oxide and copper iodide thin films
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s44172-024-00291-4
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