n-Type thermoelectric elastomers

Kai Liu, Jingyi Wang, Xiran Pan, Shuang-Yan Tian, Yudong Liu, Zhi Zhang, Yuqiu Di, Jupeng Chen, Chengwen Wu, Xin-Yu Deng, Dongyang Wang, Peiyun Li, Chen-Kai Pan, Fenglian Qi, Jinhui Liu, Jing Hua, Jian Pei, Chong-an Di, Yunlong Guo, Yunqi Liu and Ting Lei ()
Additional contact information
Kai Liu: Peking University
Jingyi Wang: Peking University
Xiran Pan: Peking University
Shuang-Yan Tian: Peking University
Yudong Liu: Qingdao University of Science and Technology
Zhi Zhang: Peking University
Yuqiu Di: Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jupeng Chen: Peking University
Chengwen Wu: Peking University
Xin-Yu Deng: Peking University
Dongyang Wang: Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences
Peiyun Li: Peking University
Chen-Kai Pan: Peking University
Fenglian Qi: Qingdao University of Science and Technology
Jinhui Liu: Qingdao University of Science and Technology
Jing Hua: Qingdao University of Science and Technology
Jian Pei: Peking University
Chong-an Di: Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yunlong Guo: Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yunqi Liu: Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences
Ting Lei: Peking University

Nature, 2025, vol. 644, issue 8078, 920-926

Abstract: Abstract Intrinsically elastic thermoelectric generators with superior conformal coverage and shape adaptability are highly desirable for developing self-powered wearable electronics, soft bioelectronics and personal temperature regulators1,2. Until now, all reported high-performance thermoelectric materials have realized only flexibility, rather than elasticity3,4. Here we present one of the first n-type thermoelectric elastomers by integrating uniform bulk nanophase separation, thermally activated crosslinking and targeted doping into a single material. The thermoelectric elastomers could exhibit exceptional rubber-like recovery of up to 150% strains and high figure of merit values rivalling flexible inorganic materials even under mechanical deformations. Conventional wisdom suggests that incorporating insulating polymers should dilute the active component in organic thermoelectrics, resulting in lower performance. However, we demonstrate that carefully selected elastomers and dopants can promote the formation of uniformly distributed, elastomer-wrapped and heavily n-doped semiconducting polymer nanofibrils, leading to improved electrical conductivity and decreased thermal conductivity. These thermoelectric elastomers have the potential to make elastic thermoelectric generators in wearable applications much more conformable and efficient.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09387-z

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