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Stretchable fabric generates electric power from woven thermoelectric fibers

Author

Listed:
  • Tingting Sun

    (College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University)

  • Beiying Zhou

    (College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University
    Ministry of Education, Donghua University)

  • Qi Zheng

    (College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University)

  • Lianjun Wang

    (College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University)

  • Wan Jiang

    (College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University
    Ministry of Education, Donghua University)

  • Gerald Jeffrey Snyder

    (Northwestern University)

Abstract

Assembling thermoelectric modules into fabric to harvest energy from body heat could one day power multitudinous wearable electronics. However, the invalid 2D architecture of fabric limits the application in thermoelectrics. Here, we make the valid thermoelectric fabric woven out of thermoelectric fibers producing an unobtrusive working thermoelectric module. Alternately doped carbon nanotube fibers wrapped with acrylic fibers are woven into π-type thermoelectric modules. Utilizing elasticity originating from interlocked thermoelectric modules, stretchable 3D thermoelectric generators without substrate can be made to enable sufficient alignment with the heat flow direction. The textile generator shows a peak power density of 70 mWm−2 for a temperature difference of 44 K and excellent stretchability (~80% strain) with no output degradation. The compatibility between body movement and sustained power supply is further displayed. The generators described here are true textiles, proving active thermoelectrics can be woven into various fabric architectures for sensing, energy harvesting, or thermal management.

Suggested Citation

  • Tingting Sun & Beiying Zhou & Qi Zheng & Lianjun Wang & Wan Jiang & Gerald Jeffrey Snyder, 2020. "Stretchable fabric generates electric power from woven thermoelectric fibers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-14399-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14399-6
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    Cited by:

    1. Sadeq Hooshmand Zaferani & Mehdi Jafarian & Daryoosh Vashaee & Reza Ghomashchi, 2021. "Thermal Management Systems and Waste Heat Recycling by Thermoelectric Generators—An Overview," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-21, September.
    2. Lianhui Li & Sijia Feng & Yuanyuan Bai & Xianqing Yang & Mengyuan Liu & Mingming Hao & Shuqi Wang & Yue Wu & Fuqin Sun & Zheng Liu & Ting Zhang, 2022. "Enhancing hydrovoltaic power generation through heat conduction effects," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Mohamed Amine Zoui & Saïd Bentouba & John G. Stocholm & Mahmoud Bourouis, 2020. "A Review on Thermoelectric Generators: Progress and Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-32, July.
    4. Fan, Zeng & Zhang, Yaoyun & Pan, Lujun & Ouyang, Jianyong & Zhang, Qian, 2021. "Recent developments in flexible thermoelectrics: From materials to devices," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    5. Yan Liu & Qihao Zhang & Aibin Huang & Keyi Zhang & Shun Wan & Hongyi Chen & Yuntian Fu & Wusheng Zuo & Yongzhe Wang & Xun Cao & Lianjun Wang & Uli Lemmer & Wan Jiang, 2024. "Fully inkjet-printed Ag2Se flexible thermoelectric devices for sustainable power generation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.

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