Facile fabrication of paper-based flexible thermoelectric generator

Abstract Paper, as a foldable, pollution-free, and low-cost material, has become suitable support substrate for producing flexible thermoelectric (TE) generators to realize waste heat recycling the application of human-powered electronic devices. We propose facile fabrication method modify cellulose paper with inorganic TE powders via vacuum filtration, making modified that possesses good properties. By connecting copper foils, paper-based (PTGs) are fabricated. The obtained PTG three units P–N modules can generate an output voltage ∼41.2 mV at temperature difference 50 K. Based on this paper, thermal sensor responds sources, such fingers, is proposed rapid response time 0.25 s. This work offers promising strategy simple PTGs, paving way achieving commercial self-powered wearable electronics.