Energy-efficient buildings and structures are needed nowadays more than ever before to promote sustainable cities and civil infrastructure. Buildings or structural elements can be used as multifunctional elements by integrating different energy-efficient systems such as solar cells or by decreasing the thermal conductivity of building materials. This project aims to create a thermoelectric concrete generator that can harvest energy from ambient temperature, which adds up to the goal of achieving Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB). The research objectives can be outlined as follows: 1. Development of a stabilized thin thermoelectric supercapacitor generator using a combination of cement, polymers, and nanomaterials. 2. Creation of an innovative way to arrange the TEG layers to reduce resistance induced by large thickness. 3. 3D printing of self-sensing TEG for building applications. The final product will help achieve sustainable energy-efficient structures.

2022

2025