Body-heat-powered devices are now one step closer to becoming a reality following an important design breakthrough.
You may not have thought of your own body heat as a source of renewable energy that could be tapped. But with the rapidly increasing demand for batteries in our increasingly electrified world – and the strain that puts on the planet’s resources – researchers have been exploring this alternative for some time.
It has been discovered that sources for wearable electronics are available. However, there are still a number of problems that need to be resolved before the technology can be commercially viable.
One major challenge is creating these wearable devices that can be flexible enough. To address this, researchers at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Australia have developed a new, ultra-thin, flexible film that enables them to be comfortable and efficient.
What are the operating principles of wearable thermoelectric devices?
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“However, challenges such as limited flexibility, complex production processes, high costs, and inadequate performance have thus far prevented these devices from achieving mass commercial production.”
Suits low-power applications like heart rate, body temperature, or movement monitors.
The Queensland University of Technology-based team took things a step further by introducing minute crystals denoted as ‘nanobinders’, which establish a uniform layer of bismuth telluride sheets.
“We have developed an A4-sized film with exceptional thermoelectric performance, high flexibility, scalability, and low cost, positioning it among the most advanced flexible thermoelectrics,” says Professor Chen.
The method used was “solvothermal synthesis,” a technique that forms nanoparticles at high pressure and elevated temperatures within a solvent.
The film is then applied by screen-printing methods, making it possible to achieve mass production. It is then exposed to high heat, almost reaching melting point, to fuse the particles into a solid composite.
From bodily heat to phone cooling
Chen and the QUT team envision a diverse array of potential applications for the technology.
In addition to making wearable devices, such as smartwatches, possible, it could also be used to cool electronic chips, thus increasing efficiency for items like smartphones and computers that have limited space.
system,” adds Chen.
