Flexible Thermoelectric Materials and Generators: Challenges and Innovations

The urgent need for ecofriendly, stable, long‐lifetime power sources is driving the booming market for miniaturized and integrated electronics, including wearable and medical implantable devices. Flexible thermoelectric materials and devices are receiving increasing attention, due to their capabilit...

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Published in:Advanced materials (Weinheim) Vol. 31; no. 29; pp. e1807916 - n/a
Main Authors: Wang, Yuan, Yang, Lei, Shi, Xiao‐Lei, Shi, Xun, Chen, Lidong, Dargusch, Matthew S., Zou, Jin, Chen, Zhi‐Gang
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.07.2019
Subjects:
Alternative energy sources
Cooling
Electronic implants
Energy conversion efficiency
energy harvesting
flexible thermoelectric materials
Heat sources
High temperature
Markets
Materials science
Medical electronics
Optimization
Organic chemistry
power generators
Power sources
Thermoelectric materials
Toxicity
energy harvesting
power generators
flexible thermoelectric materials
ISSN:0935-9648, 1521-4095, 1521-4095
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:The urgent need for ecofriendly, stable, long‐lifetime power sources is driving the booming market for miniaturized and integrated electronics, including wearable and medical implantable devices. Flexible thermoelectric materials and devices are receiving increasing attention, due to their capability to convert heat into electricity directly by conformably attaching them onto heat sources. Polymer‐based flexible thermoelectric materials are particularly fascinating because of their intrinsic flexibility, affordability, and low toxicity. There are other promising alternatives including inorganic‐based flexible thermoelectrics that have high energy‐conversion efficiency, large power output, and stability at relatively high temperature. Herein, the state‐of‐the‐art in the development of flexible thermoelectric materials and devices is summarized, including exploring the fundamentals behind the performance of flexible thermoelectric materials and devices by relating materials chemistry and physics to properties. By taking insights from carrier and phonon transport, the limitations of high‐performance flexible thermoelectric materials and the underlying mechanisms associated with each optimization strategy are highlighted. Finally, the remaining challenges in flexible thermoelectric materials are discussed in conclusion, and suggestions and a framework to guide future development are provided, which may pave the way for a bright future for flexible thermoelectric devices in the energy market. A comprehensive exploration of the material design strategies, processing methods, and underlying physics and chemistry behind the enhanced thermoelectric properties of flexible thermoelectric materials is presented, emphasizing innovative approaches and suggesting future pathways for the development of a new generation of wearable electronics.
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ISSN:0935-9648
1521-4095
1521-4095
DOI:10.1002/adma.201807916