Effect of interfacial thermal resistance on the performance of thermoelectric generator systems
Abstract
Thermal resistance, though a key determinant of heat transfer in thermoelectric generator systems (TEGS), has received far less attention than its electrical counterpart. Here, we systematically uncover the role of interfacial thermal resistance of TEGS and quantify its impact on overall performance. By integrating thermoelectric transport theory with complex-variable methods, we establish a cross-dimensional model that captures the coupled thermal–electric behavior of the full system. Numerical analyses reveal that interfacial cracks critically degrade performance by elevating the thermal resistance at the device–source/sink junctions, whereas the impact of ceramic substrates on the performance of TEGS is limited (
Fields of Study & Subjects
Advanced Thermoelectric Materials and Devices
Thermal properties of materials
Thermal Expansion and Ionic Conductivity
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy
- Publisher
- AIP Publishing
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 1
- Publication date
- 1 January 2026
- Language
- EN