TY - JOUR
T1 - Simultaneous Realization of Flexibility and Ultrahigh Normalized Power Density in a Heatsink-Free Thermoelectric Generator via Fine Thermal Regulation
AU - Zhu, Sijing
AU - Peng, Ying
AU - Gao, Jie
AU - Miao, Lei
AU - Lai, Huajun
AU - Liu, Chengyan
AU - Zhang, Junhao
AU - Zhang, Yong
AU - Zhou, Shun
AU - Koumoto, Kunihito
AU - Zhu, Tiejun
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant nos. 51772056, 51961011, 51801040, and 52061009), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (no. 2017YFE9128000), and the Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi, China (grant nos. 2020GXNSFAA159111, 2018JJA160257, 2019GXNSFAA245039, 2017GXNSFFA198015, and AD19110020).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 American Chemical Society.
PY - 2022/1/12
Y1 - 2022/1/12
N2 - Wearable thermoelectric generators (w-TEGs) can incessantly convert body heat into electricity to power electronics. However, the low efficiency of thermoelectric materials, tiny terminal temperature difference, rigidity, and negligence of lateral heat transfer preclude broad utilization of w-TEGs. In this work, we employ finite element simulation to find the key factors for simultaneous realization of flexibility and ultrahigh normalized power density. Using melamine foam with an ultralow thermal conductivity (0.03 W/m K) as the encapsulation material, a novel lightweight π-type w-TEG with no heatsink and excellent stretchability, comfortability, processability, and cost efficiency has been fabricated. At an ambient temperature of 24 °C, the maximum power density of the w-TEG reached 7 μW/cm2 (sitting) and 29 μW/cm2 (walking). Under suitable heat exchange conditions (heatsink with 1 m/s air velocity), 32 pairs of w-TEGs can generate 66 mV voltage and 60 μW/cm2 power density. The output performance of our TEG is remarkably superior to that of previously reported w-TEGs. Besides, the practicality of our w-TEG was showcased by successfully driving a quartz watch at room temperature.
AB - Wearable thermoelectric generators (w-TEGs) can incessantly convert body heat into electricity to power electronics. However, the low efficiency of thermoelectric materials, tiny terminal temperature difference, rigidity, and negligence of lateral heat transfer preclude broad utilization of w-TEGs. In this work, we employ finite element simulation to find the key factors for simultaneous realization of flexibility and ultrahigh normalized power density. Using melamine foam with an ultralow thermal conductivity (0.03 W/m K) as the encapsulation material, a novel lightweight π-type w-TEG with no heatsink and excellent stretchability, comfortability, processability, and cost efficiency has been fabricated. At an ambient temperature of 24 °C, the maximum power density of the w-TEG reached 7 μW/cm2 (sitting) and 29 μW/cm2 (walking). Under suitable heat exchange conditions (heatsink with 1 m/s air velocity), 32 pairs of w-TEGs can generate 66 mV voltage and 60 μW/cm2 power density. The output performance of our TEG is remarkably superior to that of previously reported w-TEGs. Besides, the practicality of our w-TEG was showcased by successfully driving a quartz watch at room temperature.
KW - fill factor
KW - finite element simulation flexibility
KW - melamine foam encapsulation
KW - normalized power density
KW - wearable thermoelectric generator
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U2 - 10.1021/acsami.1c20367
DO - 10.1021/acsami.1c20367
M3 - Article
C2 - 34965726
AN - SCOPUS:85122667543
SN - 1944-8244
VL - 14
SP - 1045
EP - 1055
JO - ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
JF - ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
IS - 1
ER -