2025/05/12 by R Karthik, R, Karthik, Yiwen Zheng +11 · 1 citation
Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Thermoelectric Materials and Devices #Applied Physics (physics.app-ph) #FOS: Physical sciences #MXene and MAX Phase Materials #Materials Science (cond-mat.mtrl-sci) #Topological Materials and Phenomena
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2505.07732
openalex publication_date 2025/05/12 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The rapid proliferation of wireless networks and connected devices has led to pervasive electromagnetic (EM) energy dissipation into the environment, an underutilized resource for energy harvesting. Here, we demonstrate a pyrite (FeS2)-bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) heterojunction that enables hybrid electromagnetic-to-thermoelectric energy conversion. Fabricated via a simple cold-press compaction of powders, the heterojunction forms a Schottky interface at FeS2, facilitating efficient RF absorption and localized heating. This heat is harvested by Bi2Te3 through thermoelectric conversion. Under 35~MHz RF irradiation at 1~W input power, the device achieved a local temperature rise of 46~^∘C and a thermal gradient of 5.5~K across the Bi2Te3, resulting in a peak power density of approximately 13~mW/cm2. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations further elucidate the heat transport behavior and interfacial thermoelectric performance. This work introduces a new class of heterostructures for RF-responsive energy harvesting, offering a scalable route toward self-powered IoT and wireless sensing systems.