Comfortable wearable thermoelectric generator with high output power

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Energy Harvesting
• Wearable Technology

Background:

• Wearable thermoelectric generators (TEGs) are crucial for self-powered electronic devices.
• Limited research exists on the comfort aspects of wearable TEGs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design a comfortable wearable TEG system with high output power.
• To optimize comfort (skin temperature, pressure perception) and power generation simultaneously.

Main Methods:

• Development of a sandwiched thermoelectric model.
• Systematic analysis of thermal resistive environments, bending states, material properties, and device structure.
• Fabrication of wearable TEGs using Mg-based thermoelectric materials.

Main Results:

• Achieved a power density of 18.4 μWcm⁻² under 0.8 kPa pressure and 33°C skin temperature.
• Demonstrated Mg-based materials as a viable alternative to Bi₂Te₃-based materials.
• Ensured wearer comfort through optimized design parameters.

Conclusions:

• The proposed sandwiched thermoelectric model effectively balances comfort and power output.
• Mg-based TEGs offer a promising solution for comfortable, high-performance self-powered wearable devices.