Advanced Wearable Thermocells for Body Heat Harvesting
Journal
Advanced Energy Materials
Journal Volume
10
Journal Issue
48
Start Page
2002539
ISSN
16146832
Date Issued
2020
Author(s)
Liu, Yuqing
Zhang, Shuai
Zhou, Yuetong
Buckingham, Mark A.
Sherrell, Peter C.
Wallace, Gordon G.
Ryder, Gregory
Faisal, Shaikh
Officer, David L.
Beirne, Stephen
Chen, Jun
Abstract
Thermoelectrochemical cells (thermocells) designed for harvesting human body heat can provide constant power output for wearable electronics, supplementing state-of-the-art flexible power storage and conversion solutions. However, a systematic investigation into the optimization of wearable thermocells is lacking, especially with regard to device design, n-type electrolytes, and electrode/electrolyte integration. Here, a n-type gel electrolyte: polyvinyl alcohol-FeCl2/3 with outstanding flexibility and elasticity and exceptional electrolyte/electrode integration into a 3D porous poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT/PSS) electrode, is produced via an in situ chemical crosslinking method. The integrated n-type cell shows excellent seebeck coefficients (0.85 mV K−1) and output current density (1.74 A m−2 K−1) that are comparable with an optimized p-type cell consisting of a carboxymethylcellulose-K3/4Fe(CN)6 electrolyte with a 3D PEDOT/PSS-edge functionalized graphene/carbon nanotube electrode (−1.22 mV K−1 and 1.85 A m−2 K−1). The equivalent performance of the n-type and p-type cells enables the effective series connection of up to 18 pairs of p–n cells that combines to give an output voltage of 0.34 V (∆T = 10 K). This in-series device is fabricated into a proof-of-concept watch strap, which can harvest body heat, charge supercapacitor (up to 470 mF) as well as illuminate a green light emitting diode, demonstrating the practical applications. © 2020 Wiley-VCH GmbH
Subjects
body heat
electrode/electrolyte integration
gel electrolytes
thermocells
SDGs
Publisher
Wiley-VCH Verlag
Description
論文編號: 2002539
Type
journal article