Flexible and compressible thermoelectric foam for temperature–pressure dual sensor
Journal
Chemical Engineering Journal
Journal Volume
530
Start Page
173646
ISSN
13858947
Date Issued
2026-02-15
Author(s)
Abstract
Thermoelectric materials are traditionally employed in power generation and solid-state refrigeration. However, progress in thermoelectric generators and coolers has slowed in recent years due to high material costs and limited efficiency, prompting exploration into new application area. In this study, we fabricate a composite thermoelectric foam (CTF) by integrating Ag2Se nanowires, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), and polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-ran-butylene)-block-polystyrene (SEBS). The resulting porous structure, combined with the elasticity of SEBS, endows the CTF with ultralight weight (0.33 g cm−3), low thermal conductivity (0.38 W m−1 K−1), and excellent mechanical resilience, enabling it to withstand 20% tensile strain and fully recover from 60% compressive deformation. Incorporating conductive SWCNTs yields a 6.4-fold increase in thermoelectric figure-of-merit compared to pristine Ag2Se foam. Due to the unique structure and improved thermoelectric performance, the Ag2Se/SWCNT/SEBS CTF can function effectively as a temperature–pressure dual sensor, with experimentally verified sensitivity to both ambient temperature change and mechanical strain. Our work provides a facile and scalable approach to producing CTFs with controllable thermoelectric and mechanical properties, offering strong potential for sensing applications.
Subjects
Ag2Se nanowire
Carbon nanotube
Dual-sensor
Nanocomposite
Thermoelectric foam
Publisher
Elsevier B.V.
Type
journal article