In the last few years, the exploration of new thermoelectric materials with low-toxicity, earth-abundance, and high-efficiency has become essential. Following this trend, sustainable, easily scalable, and cost-effective fabrication methods, such as electrochemical deposition, are also desirable. In this work, the Pourbaix diagram of silver–selenium–water was developed to find an adequate pH and reduction potential for the electrodeposition of stable silver selenide. Based on this diagram, a solution without the incorporation of additives was developed. Silver selenide films were electrodeposited at different reduction potentials, and after the deposition, the compositional, morphological, and structural characterizations of the silver selenide thin films were analyzed. The thermoelectric properties of the electrodeposited silver selenide films were measured at room temperature. The maximum power factor was found for the films grown at 0.071 V with a value of 3421 ± 705 μW m⁻¹ K⁻² and a thermal conductivity of 0.56 ± 0.06 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹. Even better, when it can be done by employing a technique that is easily scalable to an industrial level and allows large areas to be obtained, such as electrodeposition. Finally, films with similar properties were deposited on a flexible Kapton substrate. A unileg thermoelectric power generator was produced with maximum output powers of 14.7, 29.4, and 37 μW under temperature differences of 10, 15, and 19 K, respectively; and maximum power densities of 55.1, 110.1, and 138.6 mW m⁻² under temperature differences of 10, 15, and 19 K, respectively.

中文翻译：

---

电沉积硒化银薄膜的高热电效率：从普贝图到柔性热电模块

近年来，探索低毒、地球储量、高效率的新型热电材料变得至关重要。遵循这一趋势，可持续的、易于扩展且具有成本效益的制造方法，如电化学沉积，也是可取的。在这项工作中，开发了银-硒-水的普贝图来为稳定的硒化银的电沉积找到足够的 pH 值和还原电位。基于此图，开发了一种不掺入添加剂的解决方案。在不同的还原电位下电沉积硒化银薄膜，沉积后，分析硒化银薄膜的成分、形态和结构特征。在室温下测量电沉积硒化银膜的热电性能。发现在 0.071 V 下生长的薄膜的最大功率因数为 3421 ± 705 μW m^-1 K ^-2和0.56±0.06W m ^-1 K ^-1的热导率。更好的是，当它可以通过采用易于扩展到工业水平并允许获得大面积的技术（例如电沉积）来完成时。最后，将具有相似特性的薄膜沉积在柔性 Kapton 基板上。单腿热电发电机的最大输出功率分别为 14.7、29.4 和 37 μW，温差分别为 10、15 和 19 K；在 10、15 和 19 K 的温差下，最大功率密度分别为 55.1、110.1 和 138.6 mW m ^-2。