Brisbane, Australia: Body heat has been harnessed as a power source for next-generation wearable devices in a groundbreaking study by a research team led by Professor Zhi-Gang Chen at Queensland University of Technology (QUT).
The team has developed an ultra-thin, flexible thermoelectric film that converts body heat into electricity, potentially eliminating the need for batteries.
In addition to powering wearable devices, this technology could also be used to cool electronic chips, enhancing the performance of smartphones and computers.
The breakthrough, published in ‘Science’, tackles the major challenge of creating flexible thermoelectric devices that efficiently convert body heat into electricity.
This advancement could provide a sustainable energy source for wearable electronics and offer a novel cooling method for devices, improving their efficiency.
Along with Professor Chen, the team includes researchers from QUT and the University of Queensland, including first author Mr. Wenyi Chen, Dr. Xiao-Lei Shi, Dr. Meng Li, and others.
How this work?
The flexible thermoelectric devices work by harnessing the temperature difference between the human body and the surrounding air to generate electricity, making them suitable for wearable applications such as Personal Thermal Management Systems.
The team’s technique also holds promise for cooling applications in confined spaces like inside smartphones and computers, where efficient chip cooling can enhance performance.
Revolutionizing Thermoelectrics
Previously, most research in this area focused on bismuth telluride-based thermoelectrics. However, the QUT team introduced a cost-effective method to create flexible films by using “nano binders,” tiny crystals that form a consistent layer of bismuth telluride sheets. This innovative process significantly improves both the flexibility and performance of the thermoelectric devices.
Their new film has demonstrated record-high thermoelectric performance, flexibility, scalability, and low production cost, making it one of the best flexible thermoelectrics available.
The team used a combination of solvothermal synthesis, screen-printing, and sintering techniques to create large-scale, printable films. These methods allow the technology to be produced at a commercial scale.
Moreover, the approach is adaptable to other materials, such as silver selenide-based thermoelectrics, which could offer even cheaper and more sustainable alternatives.
The team’s work promises to advance the future of flexible thermoelectric devices for a wide range of applications.