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High Efficiency Breathable Thermoelectric Skin Using Multimode Radiative Cooling/Solar Heating Assisted Large Thermal
Yeongju Jung1, Seongmin Jeong1, Jiyong Ahn1
1Applied Nano and Thermal Science Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|August 31, 2023
Summary
This study introduces a novel Janus-structured thermoelectric skin for sustainable energy harvesting. This wearable device utilizes radiative cooling and solar heating, maximizing thermal gradients for efficient power generation in various weather conditions.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Energy Harvesting
- Wearable Electronics
Background:
- Wearable thermoelectric generators face challenges due to small temperature differences.
- Optimizing thermal gradients is crucial for efficient energy harvesting from the body and environment.
- Existing devices often focus on thermoelectric generator efficiency rather than maximizing thermal gradients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a stretchable and breathable thermoelectric skin with dual radiative cooling (RC) and solar heating (SH) functionalities.
- To create a Janus structure that maximizes the thermal gradient for enhanced energy harvesting.
- To enable adaptive power generation based on environmental conditions.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of boron nitride-polydimethylsiloxane (BP) and graphene nanoplatelet-polydimethylsiloxane (GP) nanofiber (NF) substrates.
- Development of a Janus structure enabling flip-overable thermoelectric skin (FoTES).
- Integration of RC capability (ΔTcooling = 4°C) using BP NF and solar heating using GP NF.
Main Results:
- The FoTES achieved a maximum power output (Pmax) of 5.73 µW cm-2 in RC mode and 18.59 µW cm-2 in SH mode.
- The device demonstrated superior performance in SH mode during the afternoon compared to RC mode.
- The Janus structure effectively optimized electricity generation by switching modes based on weather conditions.
Conclusions:
- The developed Janus-structured thermoelectric skin offers a sustainable power source for wearable electronics.
- The dual RC and SH functionalities provide adaptive energy harvesting capabilities.
- This work advances wearable energy harvesting by maximizing thermal gradients for improved power output.
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