Comfortable wearable thermoelectric generator with high output power.

Abstract

Wearable thermoelectric generators provide a reliable power generation method for self-powered wearable electronic devices. However, there has been a lack of research regarding the comfort of wearable thermoelectric generators. Here we propose a design for a comfortable wearable thermoelectric generators system with high output power based on sandwiched thermoelectric model. This model paves the way for simultaneously optimizing comfort (skin temperature and pressure perception) and output power by systematically considering a variety of thermal resistive environments and bending states, the properties of the thermoelectric and encapsulation materials, and the device structure. To verify this strategy, we fabricate wearable thermoelectric generators using Mg-based thermoelectric materials. These materials have great potential for replacing traditional Bi₂Te₃-based materials and enable our wearable thermoelectric generators with a power density of 18.4 μWcm^-2 under a wearing pressure of 0.8 kPa and with a skin temperature of 33 °C, ensuring the wearer's comfort.