Design Multiescala de Compósitos Cerâmicos Sustentáveis Impulsionados por MXene para Recuperação de Calor e Refrigeração Termoelétrica

The MeXTSus project aligns with the urgent global need for environmentally friendly and energy-efficient technologies. It focuses on TE materials, which are pivotal for converting waste heat into electrical power and for innovative cooling solutions. These technologies are key to improving energy efficiency across various industries, contributing to reducing carbon emissions and supporting sustainable development initiatives. Key objectives of the process encompass: - To optimise an eco-friendly method for processing MXene-containing composite precursors. This implies refinement of the sustainable synthesis method for MXene composites, derived from MAX phases with aluminium excess. Initially applied by the project team for designing hydrogen evolution electrodes, this method will be customised for TE composites, marking a considerable advancement over the conventional, toxic HF-based MXene preparation method. - To establish a reliable processing route for MXene-containing ceramics. A robust methodology for the fabrication of ceramic composites integrated with MXene-containing components will be developed, ensuring consistency and high-quality ceramics. - To develop multiscale design principles for TE ceramic composites. One will formulate and implement design strategies that significantly enhance the TE performance of ceramics to achieve a ZT value near or above 1, marking a substantial advancement over the current state of the art for oxide TE. - To demonstrate efficient heat harvesting. The developed ceramic composites will be integrated into 4-8 legs TE generator prototypes to showcase efficient heat-to-electricity conversion, aiming for a performance benchmark of at least 30 mW, significantly exceeding the state-of-the-art performance of oxide-based TEGs with a similar configuration. - To explore prospects for TE cooling using the fabricated TEG. The proposed multiscale design principles are expected to enable a reasonable performance even at nearly room temperature. In this case, the fabricated TEGs will be tested for cooling applications, to explore a new application area for oxide TE previously considered impractical. - To ensure proactive dissemination of the project results to various groups of stakeholders. One will implement a comprehensive dissemination strategy to effectively communicate the project's advancements and potential impacts to a wide audience, including academia, industry and the general public. -To engage with identified stakeholders for potential exploitation of the project outputs. This implies active engagement with key sectors and entities identified through stakeholder mapping, fostering collaboration and encouraging the adoption of project innovations. Particular attention will be given to industries with high thermal process requirements and waste heat recovery needs, educational institutions, and the broader public, aiming to maximise the project's impact and facilitate technology transfer. MeXTSus project strives to bridge the gap between innovative TE research and tangible societal and industrial applications. It aims to broaden the application spectrum of oxide ceramic materials in TE by addressing their traditionally perceived limitations. By integrating advanced materials like MXenes and optimising the composite structures, the project seeks to unlock the full potential of these abundant and thermally stable materials for both energy harvesting and cooling applications.