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Wearable Thermocells Based on Gel Electrolytes for the Utilization of Body Heat
Author(s) -
Yang Peihua,
Liu Kang,
Chen Qian,
Mo Xiaobao,
Zhou Yishu,
Li Song,
Feng Guang,
Zhou Jun
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201606314
Subject(s) - wearable computer , thermoelectric generator , electrolyte , thermoelectric effect , materials science , fabrication , electronics , wearable technology , electrochemistry , thermoelectric materials , nanotechnology , electricity , generator (circuit theory) , voltage , seebeck coefficient , electrical engineering , computer science , power (physics) , chemistry , composite material , electrode , engineering , embedded system , physics , thermal conductivity , thermodynamics , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology
Converting body heat into electricity is a promising strategy for supplying power to wearable electronics. To avoid the limitations of traditional solid‐state thermoelectric materials, such as frangibility and complex fabrication processes, we fabricated two types of thermogalvanic gel electrolytes with positive and negative thermo‐electrochemical Seebeck coefficients, respectively, which correspond to the n‐type and p‐type elements of a conventional thermoelectric generator. Such gel electrolytes exhibit not only moderate thermoelectric performance but also good mechanical properties. Based on these electrolytes, a flexible and wearable thermocell was designed with an output voltage approaching 1 V by utilizing body heat. This work may offer a new train of thought for the development of self‐powered wearable systems by harvesting low‐grade body heat.