Silicon nanowire networks for multi-stage thermoelectric modules

•Fabricated flexible single, double, and quadruple stacked Si thermoelectric modules.•Measured an enhanced power production of 27%, showing vertical stacking is scalable.•Vertically scalable thermoelectric module design of semiconducting nanowires.•Design can utilize either p or n-type semiconductors, both types are not required.•ΔT increases with thickness therefore power/area can increase as modules are stacked.

We present the fabrication and characterization of single, double, and quadruple stacked flexible silicon nanowire network based thermoelectric modules. From double to quadruple stacked modules, power production increased 27%, demonstrating that stacking multiple nanowire thermoelectric devices in series is a scalable method to generate power by supplying larger temperature gradient. We present a vertically scalable multi-stage thermoelectric module design using semiconducting nanowires, eliminating the need for both n-type and p-type semiconductors for modules.

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