| 1. |
- Beretta, Davide, et al.
(author)
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Thermoelectrics: From history, a window to the future
- 2019
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In: Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports. - : Elsevier BV. - 0927-796X. ; 138
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Thermoelectricity offers a sustainable path to recover and convert waste heat into readily available electric energy, and has been studied for more than two centuries. From the controversy between Galvani and Volta on the Animal Electricity, dating back to the end of the XVIII century and anticipating Seebeck's observations, the understanding of the physical mechanisms evolved along with the development of the technology. In the XIX century Ørsted clarified some of the earliest observations of the thermoelectric phenomenon and proposed the first thermoelectric pile, while it was only after the studies on thermodynamics by Thomson, and Rayleigh's suggestion to exploit the Seebeck effect for power generation, that a diverse set of thermoelectric generators was developed. From such pioneering endeavors, technology evolved from massive, and sometimes unreliable, thermopiles to very reliable devices for sophisticated niche applications in the XX century, when Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators for space missions and nuclear batteries for cardiac pacemakers were introduced. While some of the materials adopted to realize the first thermoelectric generators are still investigated nowadays, novel concepts and improved understanding of materials growth, processing, and characterization developed during the last 30 years have provided new avenues for the enhancement of the thermoelectric conversion efficiency, for example through nanostructuration, and favored the development of new classes of thermoelectric materials. With increasing demand for sustainable energy conversion technologies, the latter aspect has become crucial for developing thermoelectrics based on abundant and non-toxic materials, which can be processed at economically viable scales, tailored for different ranges of temperature. This includes high temperature applications where a substantial amount of waste energy can be retrieved, as well as room temperature applications where small and local temperature differences offer the possibility of energy scavenging, as in micro harvesters meant for distributed electronics such as sensor networks. While large scale applications have yet to make it to the market, the richness of available and emerging thermoelectric technologies presents a scenario where thermoelectrics is poised to contribute to a future of sustainable future energy harvesting and management. This work reviews the broad field of thermoelectrics. Progress in thermoelectrics and milestones that led to the current state-of-the-art are presented by adopting an historical footprint. The review begins with an historical excursus on the major steps in the history of thermoelectrics, from the very early discovery to present technology. A panel on the theory of thermoelectric transport in the solid state reviews the transport theory in complex crystal structures and nanostructured materials. Then, the most promising thermoelectric material classes are discussed one by one in dedicated sections and subsections, carefully highlighting the technological solutions on materials growth that have represented a turning point in the research on thermoelectrics. Finally, perspectives and the future of the technology are discussed in the framework of sustainability and environmental compatibility. © 2018 Elsevier B.V.
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| 2. |
- Kemerink, M., et al.
(author)
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Temperature- and density-dependent channel potentials in high-mobility organic field-effect transistors
- 2009
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In: Physical Review B. Condensed Matter and Materials Physics. - : American Physical Society. - 1098-0121 .- 1550-235X. ; 80:11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The density-dependent charge-carrier mobility in high-mobility organic field-effect transistors is investigated by simultaneous measurements of the channel potential and the transfer characteristics. By working under ultrahigh-vacuum conditions extrinsic effects due to H(2)O traces could be eliminated. The shape of the channel potential is inconsistent with a density-independent mobility. We find that the variable range hopping model as derived by Vissenberg and Matters for an exponential density of states [Phys. Rev. B 57, 12964 (1998)] consistently describes the data.
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| 3. |
- DInnocenzo, V., et al.
(author)
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Two-dimensional charge transport in molecularly ordered polymer field-effect transistors
- 2016
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In: JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C. - : ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY. - 2050-7526 .- 2050-7534. ; 4:47, s. 11135-11142
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Nanometer-thick Langmuir-Schafer monolayers of an electron transporting polymer display charge transport, optical and electro-optical properties that do not depend on the number of layers deposited one above the other. This phenomenon can be rationalized with the micro-structure of the specific multi-layers, which introduces an interlayer hopping penalty confining transport to a neat 2D regime, with a channel not extending beyond a single similar to 3 nm thick polymer strand, as confirmed by kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. Such findings are critical to establish a quantitative structure-property nexus in high mobility polymer semiconductors and in the control of charge transport at a molecular scale.
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| 4. |
- Lombeck, F., et al.
(author)
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On the Effect of Prevalent Carbazole Homocoupling Defects on the Photovoltaic Performance of PCDTBT:PC71BM Solar Cells
- 2016
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In: Advanced Energy Materials. - : Wiley. - 1614-6840 .- 1614-6832. ; 6:21
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The photophysical properties and solar cell performance of the classical donor-acceptor copolymer PCDTBT(poly(N-9-heptadecanyl-2,7-carbazole-alt -5,5-(4,7-di-2-thienyl-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole))) in relation to unintentionally formed main chain defects are investigated. Carbazole-carbazole homocouplings (Cbz hc) are found to significant extent in PCDTBT made with a variety of Suzuki polycondensation conditions. Cbz hc vary between 0 and 8 mol% depending on the synthetic protocol used, and are quantified by detailed nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy including model compounds, which allows to establish a calibration curve from optical spectroscopy. The results are corroborated by extended time-dependent density functional theory investigations on the structural, electronic, and optical properties of regularly alternating and homocoupled chains. The photovoltaic properties of PCDTBT:fullerene blend solar cells significantly depend on the Cbz hc content for constant molecular weight, whereby an increasing amount of Cbz hc leads to strongly decreased short circuit currents J(SC). With increasing Cbz hc content, J(SC) decreases more strongly than the intensity of the low energy absorption band, suggesting that small losses in absorption cannot explain the decrease in J(SC) alone, rather than combined effects of a more localized LUMO level on the TBT unit and lower hole mobilities found in highly defective samples. Homocoupling-free PCDTBT with optimized molecular weight yields the highest efficiency up to 7.2% without extensive optimization.
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| 5. |
- Massetti, Matteo, et al.
(author)
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Fully direct written organic micro-thermoelectric generators embedded in a plastic foil
- 2020
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In: Nano Energy. - : ELSEVIER. - 2211-2855 .- 2211-3282. ; 75
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Organic materials have attracted great interest for thermoelectric applications due to their tuneable electronic properties, solution processability and earth-abundance, potentially enabling high-throughput realization of low-cost devices for low-power energy harvesting applications. So far, organic thermoelectricity has primarily focused on materials development, with less attention given to integrated generators. Yet, future applications will require the combination of efficient generators architectures and scalable manufacturing techniques to leverage the advantages of such promising materials. Here we report the realization of a monolithic organic micro-thermoelectric generator (mu-OTEG), using only direct writing methods, embedding the thermoelectric legs within a plastic substrate through a combination of direct laser writing and inkjet printing techniques. Employing PEDOT:PSS for the p-type legs and a doped fullerene derivative for the n-type ones, we demonstrate a mu-OTEG with power density of 30.5 nW/cm(2) under small thermal gradients, proving the concrete possibility of achieving power requirements of low-power, distributed sensing applications.
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| 6. |
- Pecunia, Vincenzo, et al.
(author)
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Roadmap on energy harvesting materials
- 2023
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In: Journal of Physics. - : IOP Publishing. - 2515-7639. ; 6:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Ambient energy harvesting has great potential to contribute to sustainable development and address growing environmental challenges. Converting waste energy from energy-intensive processes and systems (e.g. combustion engines and furnaces) is crucial to reducing their environmental impact and achieving net-zero emissions. Compact energy harvesters will also be key to powering the exponentially growing smart devices ecosystem that is part of the Internet of Things, thus enabling futuristic applications that can improve our quality of life (e.g. smart homes, smart cities, smart manufacturing, and smart healthcare). To achieve these goals, innovative materials are needed to efficiently convert ambient energy into electricity through various physical mechanisms, such as the photovoltaic effect, thermoelectricity, piezoelectricity, triboelectricity, and radiofrequency wireless power transfer. By bringing together the perspectives of experts in various types of energy harvesting materials, this Roadmap provides extensive insights into recent advances and present challenges in the field. Additionally, the Roadmap analyses the key performance metrics of these technologies in relation to their ultimate energy conversion limits. Building on these insights, the Roadmap outlines promising directions for future research to fully harness the potential of energy harvesting materials for green energy anytime, anywhere.
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| 7. |
- R. Hinojosa, Diego, et al.
(author)
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Solubilizing Benzodifuranone-Based Conjugated Copolymers with Single-Oxygen-Containing Branched Side Chains
- 2024
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In: ACS Applied Polymer Materials. - 2637-6105. ; 6:1, s. 457-465
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Single-oxygen-containing branched side chains are designed and used to solubilize n-type copolymers consisting of BDF (benzodifuranone), isatin, and thiophene-based units. We present a simple synthetic approach to side chains with varying linker distances between the backbone and the branching point. The synthetic pathway is straightforward and modular and starts with commercially available reagents. The side chains give rise to excellent solubilities of BDF-thiophene copolymers of up to 90 mg/mL, while still being moderate in size (26-34 atoms large). The excellent solubility furthermore allows high molar mass materials. BDF-thiophene copolymers are characterized in terms of optoelectronic and thermoelectric properties. The electrical conductivity of chemically doped polymers is found to scale with molar mass, reaching ∼1 S/cm for the highest molar mass and longest backbone-branching point distance.
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| 8. |
- Malbrain, MLNG, et al.
(author)
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Intravenous fluid therapy in the perioperative and critical care setting: Executive summary of the International Fluid Academy (IFA)
- 2020
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In: Annals of intensive care. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2110-5820. ; 10:1, s. 64-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Intravenous fluid administration should be considered as any other pharmacological prescription. There are three main indications: resuscitation, replacement, and maintenance. Moreover, the impact of fluid administration as drug diluent or to preserve catheter patency, i.e., fluid creep, should also be considered. As for antibiotics, intravenous fluid administration should follow the four Ds: drug, dosing, duration, de-escalation. Among crystalloids, balanced solutions limit acid–base alterations and chloride load and should be preferred, as this likely prevents renal dysfunction. Among colloids, albumin, the only available natural colloid, may have beneficial effects. The last decade has seen growing interest in the potential harms related to fluid overloading. In the perioperative setting, appropriate fluid management that maintains adequate organ perfusion while limiting fluid administration should represent the standard of care. Protocols including a restrictive continuous fluid administration alongside bolus administration to achieve hemodynamic targets have been proposed. A similar approach should be considered also for critically ill patients, in whom increased endothelial permeability makes this strategy more relevant. Active de-escalation protocols may be necessary in a later phase. The R.O.S.E. conceptual model (Resuscitation, Optimization, Stabilization, Evacuation) summarizes accurately a dynamic approach to fluid therapy, maximizing benefits and minimizing harms. Even in specific categories of critically ill patients, i.e., with trauma or burns, fluid therapy should be carefully applied, considering the importance of their specific aims; maintaining peripheral oxygen delivery, while avoiding the consequences of fluid overload.
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