Flexible thermoelectric generator with high Seebeck coefficients made from polymer composites and heat-sink fabrics

Light and flexible thermoelectric generators operating at room temperature are highly desirable for wearable microelectronics. Here, flexible thermoelectric composites comprising semiconducting Bi2Te3 particles and conductive polymers exhibit a high output power within a small temperature window around room temperature. Light and flexible thermoelectric generators working around room temperature and within a small temperature range are much desirable for numerous applications of wearable microelectronics, internet of things, and waste heat recovery. Herein, we report a high performance flexible thermoelectric generator made of polymeric thermoelectric composites and heat sink fabrics. The thermoelectric composites comprise n- and p-type Bi2Te3 particles and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate, exhibiting a synergic effect that results in Seebeck coefficients higher than those of the constituent alloys and conductive polymer. The flexible and light thermoelectric generator produces an output power of 9.0 mW, a specific output power of 2.3 mW/g, and an areal power density of 6.5 W/m(2) at Delta T = 45 K. By using the heat sink fabrics to maintain a large and uniform distribution of temperature difference across the generator, a three-fold increment of the output power is obtained.

Automated summary

Light and flexible thermoelectric generators operating at room temperature are highly desirable for wearable microelectronics. In this study, a high-performance flexible thermoelectric generator made of polymeric thermoelectric composites and heat sink fabrics was developed, which significantly increased the output power through improving the distribution of temperature difference.