Wearable Thermoelectric Materials and Devices for Self-Powered Electronic Systems

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Energy Harvesting
• Wearable Technology

Background:

• Growing demand for maintenance-free power sources for AI and IoT devices.
• Advancements in integrated circuits enable devices powered by body heat.
• Thermoelectric (TE) materials offer a viable solution for converting body heat to electricity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review functional materials, processing techniques, and device design strategies for wearable thermoelectric generators (WTEGs).
• To summarize wearable self-powered systems based on WTEGs.
• To discuss challenges and provide suggestions for future developments in wearable TE materials and devices.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on thermoelectric materials and wearable thermoelectric generators.
• Analysis of processing techniques and device design strategies for flexible and stretchable WTEGs.
• Summary of wearable self-powered systems, including multi-function TE modules and hybrid energy harvesting.

Main Results:

• WTEGs have become more flexible and stretchable due to advances in processing and material performance.
• Various WTEG types, self-powered systems, and hybrid energy harvesting approaches are detailed.
• Key challenges in organic TE materials, interfacial engineering, and performance assessment are identified.

Conclusions:

• WTEGs are promising for powering wearable devices using body heat, offering an alternative to environmentally dependent sources.
• The review provides a comprehensive overview of WTEG technology, highlighting progress and potential.
• Addressing identified challenges is crucial for the rapid implementation of WTEGs in self-powered electronic systems.