The influence of post-deposition thermal annealing on the thermoelectric properties of n-and p-type nanocrystalline hydrogenated silicon thin films, deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition, was studied in this work. The Power Factor of p-type films was improved from 7× 10− 5 to 4× 10− 4 W/(mK 2) as the annealing temperature, under vacuum, increased up to 400° C while for n-type films it has a minor influence. Optimized Seebeck coefficient values of 460 μV/K and− 320 μV/K were achieved for p-and n-type films, respectively, with crystalline size in the range of 10 nm, leading to remarkable low thermal conductivity values (< 10 Wm− 1. K− 1) at room temperature.

The electronic and optical properties of p-type copper oxides (CO) strongly depend on the production technique as it influences the obtained phases: cuprous oxide (Cu2O) or cupric oxide (CuO), the most common ones. Cu films deposited by thermal evaporation have been annealed in air atmosphere, with temperature between 225 and 375 °C and time between 1 and 4 h. The resultant CO films have been studied to understand the influence of processing parameters in the thermoelectric, electrical, optical, morphological, and structural properties. Films with a Cu2O single phase are formed when annealing at 225 °C, while CuO single phase films can be obtained at 375 °C. In between, both phases are obtained in proportions that depend on the film thickness and annealing time. The positive sign of the Seebeck coefficient (S), measured at room temperature (RT), confirms the p-type behavior of both oxides, showing values up to 1.2 mV·°C–1and conductivity up to 2.9 (Ω·m)−1. A simple detector using Cu2O have been fabricated and tested with fast finger touch events

Cadmium selenide quantum dots (CdSe QDs), were synthesized by one‐pot or water‐to‐organic phase transfer and capped with molten 2,2′‐bipyridine (bipy). The obtained CdSe QDs by the two‐step procedure, reveal average sizes of 2 nm while the one‐pot are mixed with secondary salt products and bipy and are undetectable by TEM. However the absorption peak of both CdSe QDs was at 425 nm and the emission band is centered at 535 nm, with a band width at half height of 77 nm, when excited with 425 nm light. The two‐step CdSe QDs synthesis has the great advantage of capping the CdSe QDs with bipy, forming a solid phase, which is easily stored and dispersed in most of the organic solvents. On the other hand, the one‐pot procedure requires an extra step to remove the secondary products.

The main objective of TransFlexTeg is to develop an innovative large area distributed sensor network integrating transparent thin film thermoelectric devices and sensors for multifunctional smart windows and flexible high impact volume applications. Different breakthrough concepts will be developed: 1) large area high performance transparent thermoelectric thin films deposited on flexible substrates for thermal energy harvesting; 2) low cost high throughput thin film thermal sensors for thermal mapping and gesture sensing; 3) flexible smart windows and walls with energy harvesting, environmental sensing and wireless communication functionalities. This technology aims to demonstrate the functionalities of a smart window able to measure air quality and environmental parameters such as temperature, sun radiation and humidity. The data is automatically collected and can be utilized for controlling heating, cooling and ventilation systems of indoors. Active radio interface enables long range communication and long term data collection with WiFi or a similar base station. The proposed concept of smart windows replaces several conventional sensors with a distributed sensor network that is integrated invisibly into windows. In addition to the power generated from the thermal energy harvesting, the thermoelectric elements (TE) are also used as temperature sensors that, while being distributed over large area, enable thermal mapping of the area instead of just one or a few values measured from particular points. This smart window can be produced on glass. The active layer itself can be flexible glass layer or polymer sheet, which will significantly broaden the field of applications and improve business opportunities. Both can be manufactured in batch, or in Roll to Roll Atomic Layer Deposition (R2R ALD) process. High environmental impact is expected with savings of more than 25% of the electrical usage of residential homes and office buildings.