Progress On Flexible Low-Cost Organic Thermoelectric Material And Device Development At CDT (Energy Harvesting and Storage Europe 2016)

Organic materials for thermoelectric energy harvesting have some advantages over their inorganic counterparts such as low toxicity, lightweight and flexible form factor. They can be deposited using solution processable techniques making the technology scalable with area and reducing fabrication costs. Possible applications aimed at low operating temperatures such as wearable thermoelectric generators powered by body heat.

Dr Andrey Nikolaenko received his M.Sc. degree from Novosibirsk State University in 2002 and his PhD degree from the Institute of Semiconductor Physics SB RAS (Novosibirsk, Russia) in 2006, both in semiconductor physics. Between 2007 and 2012 he was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Sheffield and at the University of Southampton working in the areas of optics of low-dimensional semiconductor structures, and nanophotonics/optoelectronics, respectively. Since 2012 he has worked as a scientist at CDT developing polymer OLEDs and more recently, novel organic electronic devices, including devices for thermoelectric energy harvesting.

CDT is a research and development subsidiary of the Sumitomo Chemical Company and is a pioneer in thin film and solution process technologies. For energy harvesting and storage applications, CDT is developing photovoltaic cells, thermo-electric generation and thin film batteries. We also develop organic semiconductor materials and devices for display and lighting, photodiode detectors and transistor circuitry. We work with a network of partner companies and University groups who provide complementary expertise and knowledge to accelerate the translation of research into products. CDT is based in the UK and maintains a state of the art research and development facility incorporating a 640 m² cleanroom, chemistry labs and extensive test capability. This facility contains a 2" development line and a 14" prototype line for films and devices fabricated on glass or flexible plastic substrates.