Novel structural design of wearable thermoelectric generator with vertically oriented thermoelements

Mohammed Nazibul Hasan, Nafarizal Nayan, Marwan Nafea, Asan G.A. Muthalif and Mohamed Sultan Mohamed Ali

Energy, 2022, vol. 259, issue C

Abstract: Energy harvesting technology has become important for wearable electronics, where a continuous power supply is essential. Although a wearable thermoelectric generator (TEG) is a promising option in this context, maintaining a substantial temperature gradient (ΔT) between the hot and cold sides of the TEG and a low thermal contact resistance between the TEG and the human body is challenging due to its structural configuration. Herein, a novel structural solution to these problems has been presented with vertically aligned p-type poly (3,4-ethylene-dioxythiophene):poly (styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) thin film and n-type aluminum wire-based thermoelements integrated wearable TEG. The developed wearable TEG with five pairs of thermoelements reported an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of up to 1.46 mV when applied to the wrist. Subsequently, the generator was tested at a higher temperature, and the characterization results revealed that the TEG produced a maximum Voc of 5.15 mV at a ΔT of 80 °C. Inclusively, the TEG provided a maximum output power and an output power density of ∼2.4 nW and 1.5 nWcm−2, respectively, at a ΔT of 80 °C. The proposed TEG design concept demonstrates elevated performance with great flexibility and has the potential to act as a viable alternative for next-generation energy harvesting devices.

Keywords: Energy harvesting; Wearable electronics; Wearable thermoelectric generator; PEDOT:PSS; Thermoelement (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:259:y:2022:i:c:s0360544222019284

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2022.125032

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