3D extruded composite thermoelectric threads for flexible energy harvesting.

ABSTRACT: Whereas the rigid nature of standard thermoelectrics limits their use, flexible thermoelectric platforms can find much broader applications, for example, in low-power, wearable energy harvesting for internet-of-things applications. Here we realize continuous, flexible thermoelectric threads via a rapid extrusion of 3D-printable composite inks (Bi₂Te₃ n- or p-type micrograins within a non-conducting polymer as a binder) followed by compression through a roller-pair, and we demonstrate their applications in flexible, low-power energy harvesting. The thermoelectric power factors of these threads are enhanced up to 7 orders-of-magnitude after lateral compression, principally due to improved conductivity resulting from reduced void volume fraction and partial alignment of

SUBMITTER: Peng J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6897922 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature