It is a great challenge to substantially improve the practical performance of flexible thermoelectric modules due to the absence of air-stable n-type thermoelectric materials with high-power factor. Here an excellent flexible n-type thermoelectric film is developed, which can be conveniently and rapidly prepared based on the as-grown carbon nanotube continuous networks with high conductivity. The optimum n-type film exhibits ultrahigh power factor of ∼1,500 μW m K and outstanding stability in air without encapsulation. Inspired by the findings, we design and successfully fabricate the compact-configuration flexible TE modules, which own great advantages compared with the conventional π-type configuration modules and well integrate the superior thermoelectric properties of p-type and n-type carbon nanotube films resulting in a markedly high performance. Moreover, the research results are highly scalable and also open opportunities for the large-scale production of flexible thermoelectric modules.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms14886 | DOI Listing |
In this study, we investigate the thermoelectric properties of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (F-MWCNTs) dispersed over a flexible substrate through a facile vacuum filtration route. To improve their interfacial adhesion and dispersion, F-MWCNTs underwent hot-pressing. The heat-treatment has improved the nanotubes' connections and subsequently reduced porosity as well, which results in an increasing electrical conductivity upon increasing temperature of hot-pressing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Appl Mater Interfaces
January 2025
School of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.
Flexible thermoelectric generators (FTEGs) can continuously harvest energy from the environment or the human body to supply wearable electronic devices, which should be a clean energy solution and provide an opportunity to satisfy the increasing power consumption of multimodal sensing and data transmission in wearable electronic devices. Here, the 64-pair FTEG was fabricated by introducing the plated through-hole and heterotypic electrode structures to optimize the thermal transport, showing the largely improved output power of 4.1 mW and record-high power density of 312 μW cm at a given ambient temperature of 15 °C inside a measurement equipment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Nano
January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, P. R. China.
Intensifying the severity of electromagnetic (EM) pollution in the environment represents a significant threat to human health and results in considerable energy wastage. Here, we provide a strategy for electricity generation from heat generated by electromagnetic wave radiation captured from the surrounding environment that can reduce the level of electromagnetic pollution while alleviating the energy crisis. We prepared a porous, elastomeric, and lightweight BiTe/carbon aerogel (CN@BiTe) by a simple strategy of induced in situ growth of BiTe nanosheets with three-dimensional (3D) carbon structure, realizing the coupling of electromagnetic wave absorption (EMA) and thermoelectric (TE) properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNat Commun
January 2025
Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, UK.
The Selective Metallization Technique shows promise for roll-to-roll in-line patterning of flexible electronics using evaporated metals, but challenges arise when applied to sputtering functional materials. This study overcomes these challenges with simultaneous sputtering of Bi-Sb-Te and evaporation of metal (Ag or Cu) for thermoelectric layers when using Selective Metallization Technique. Large-scale manufacturing is demonstrated through roll-to-roll processing of a 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Adv
January 2025
National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China.
Flexible thermoelectric systems capable of converting human body heat or solar heat into sustainable electricity are crucial for the development of self-powered wearable electronics. However, challenges persist in maintaining a stable temperature gradient and enabling scalable fabrication for their commercialization. Herein, we present a facile approach involving the screen printing of large-scale carbon nanotube (CNT)-based thermoelectric arrays on conventional textile.
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