High-Performance Wearable Bi2Te3-Based Thermoelectric Generator

Wearable thermoelectric generators (w-TEGs) convert thermal energy into electrical to realize self-powering of intelligent electronic devices, thus reducing the burden battery replacement and charging, improving usage time efficiency devices. Through finite element simulation, this study successfully designed high-performance generator made it wearable module by adopting “rigid device—flexible connection” method. It was found that higher convective heat transfer coefficient (h) on cold-end leads larger effective temperature difference (ΔTeff) better power generation performance device in typical scenario. Meanwhile, at same h cold-end, longer TE leg length ΔTeff established both ends device, output (Pout) open-circuit voltage (Uoc). However, when increases a certain level, optimization effect increasing will gradually diminish. For devices with fixed between two ends, resistance TEGs, resulting lower Pout but slight increase Uoc. Finally, sixteen 16 × 4 2 mm2 TEGs (L = 1.38 mm, W 0.6 mm) modules were fabricated tested. At hot end Th 33 °C cold Tc 30 °C, actual maximum TEG about 0.2 mW, 1.602 which is highly consistent simulated value. This work brings great convenience research development provides new, environmentally friendly efficient solution for