Moore and More ›› 2025, Vol. 1 ›› Issue (4): 356-369.DOI: 10.1007/s44275-024-00020-1

• Review • 上一篇    下一篇

Wearable self-powered devices based on polymer thermoelectric materials

Yi Yang1,2, Hui Li1,2, Zhen Xu1,2, Siyi Luo1,2, Lidong Chen1,2   

  1. 1. State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructures, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, China;
    2. Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
  • 收稿日期:2024-10-10 修回日期:2024-11-29 接受日期:2024-12-03 出版日期:2025-11-29 发布日期:2025-02-17
  • 通讯作者: Hui Li,E-mail:lihui889@mail.sic.ac.cn;Lidong Chen,E-mail:cld@mail.sic.ac.cn
  • Yi Yang Yi Yang graduated with her B.Eng. degree from Donghua University in 2023. She is now pursuing her Master’s degree at the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Her current research direction is the design, synthesis, and application of polymer thermoelectric materials.
    Hui Li Hui Li received her Ph.D. degree in physical chemistry from the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in 2015. Then she worked as a postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins University. She has been an associate professor at Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences since 2018. Her current interests cover the development of new conductive polymers for thermoelectric device and charge carrier transport in doped materials.
    Zhen Xu Zhen Xu received his B.Eng. degree from China University of Petroleum, Beijing in 2020. Now he is pursuing his Ph.D. at the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His current research focuses on the design and fabrication of high-performance thermoelectric devices.
    Siyi Luo Siyi Luo received her B.Eng. degree in 2021 from Beihang University. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Her current research interests include the design and synthesis of novel polymer thermoelectric materials.
    Lidong Chen Lidong Chen received his Ph.D. degree in materials science from Tohoku University in 1990. He has been a Professor at Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences since 2001. His research activity mainly focuses on the design, synthesis, and characterization of thermoelectric materials, as well as the integration of thermoelectric devices.
  • 基金资助:
    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 92263109), the Shanghai Rising-Star Program (No. 22QA1410400) and Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai (No. 23ZR1472200).

Wearable self-powered devices based on polymer thermoelectric materials

Yi Yang1,2, Hui Li1,2, Zhen Xu1,2, Siyi Luo1,2, Lidong Chen1,2   

  1. 1. State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructures, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, China;
    2. Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
  • Received:2024-10-10 Revised:2024-11-29 Accepted:2024-12-03 Online:2025-11-29 Published:2025-02-17
  • Contact: Hui Li,E-mail:lihui889@mail.sic.ac.cn;Lidong Chen,E-mail:cld@mail.sic.ac.cn
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 92263109), the Shanghai Rising-Star Program (No. 22QA1410400) and Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai (No. 23ZR1472200).

摘要: Driven by rapid advances in the thermoelectric (TE) performance of organic materials, conjugated polymer thermoelectric (PTE) materials are considered ideal candidates for flexible self-powered devices because of their intrinsic flexibility, tailored molecular structure, large-area solution processability, and low thermal conductivity. One promising application is the flexible and wearable TE devices used on the human body to convert human energy (human motion or body heat) into electricity. The self-powered character with extended functions allows PTE devices to monitor human activity or health status. In this review, we first introduce existing high-performance PTE materials and the architectures of PTE devices. Then, we focus on the progress of research on flexible self-powered devices based on PTE materials, including TE generators, TE sensors, and Peltier coolers. Finally, possible challenges in the development of PTE devices are discussed.

关键词: Polymer thermoelectric materials, Thermoelectric generators, Self-powered devices, Photodetectors, Peltier coolers

Abstract: Driven by rapid advances in the thermoelectric (TE) performance of organic materials, conjugated polymer thermoelectric (PTE) materials are considered ideal candidates for flexible self-powered devices because of their intrinsic flexibility, tailored molecular structure, large-area solution processability, and low thermal conductivity. One promising application is the flexible and wearable TE devices used on the human body to convert human energy (human motion or body heat) into electricity. The self-powered character with extended functions allows PTE devices to monitor human activity or health status. In this review, we first introduce existing high-performance PTE materials and the architectures of PTE devices. Then, we focus on the progress of research on flexible self-powered devices based on PTE materials, including TE generators, TE sensors, and Peltier coolers. Finally, possible challenges in the development of PTE devices are discussed.

Key words: Polymer thermoelectric materials, Thermoelectric generators, Self-powered devices, Photodetectors, Peltier coolers