Weavable thermoelectrics: advances, controversies, and future developments

Abstract

Owing to the capability of the conversion between thermal energy and electrical energy and their advantages of lightweight, compactness, noise-free operation, and precision reliability, wearable thermoelectrics show great potential for diverse applications. Among them, weavable thermoelectrics, a subclass with inherent flexibility, wearability, and operability, find utility in harnessing waste heat from irregular heat sources. Given the rapid advancements in this field, a timely review is essential to consolidate the progress and challenge. Here, we provide an overview of the state of weavable thermoelectric materials and devices in wearable smart textiles, encompassing mechanisms, materials, fabrications, device structures, and applications from recent advancements, challenges, and prospects. This review can serve as a valuable reference for researchers in the field of flexible wearable thermoelectric materials and devices and their applications.

Enhanced figure of merit in two-dimensional ZrNiSn nanosheets for thermoelectric applications

“…Global energy consumption is slowly shifting from devices that are reliant on non-renewable sources to those reliant on renewable sources, including nuclear power plants, wind turbines, hydroelectric plants, solar panels and thermoelectric devices. Thermoelectric devices have the potential to directly convert heat into electricity through the Seebeck effect, and vice versa through the Peltier effect [1][2][3][4]. The efficacy of thermoelectric devices mainly depends on their figure of merit ZT, with ZT = S 2 σT k where S, σ, k and T denote the Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and temperature, respectively.…”

CdSe Quantum Dots Enable High Thermoelectric Performance in Solution‐Processed Polycrystalline SnSe

“…Thermoelectric materials play a crucial role in the conversion of thermal energy into electrical energy, harnessing the charged carriers within solid materials as their working components. [ 1–4 ] In the present era of energy crises and growing environmental concerns, thermoelectric materials offer a promising and environmentally friendly solution, as they generate no toxic emissions and do not require any moving parts. [ 5–7 ] However, the widespread utilization of thermoelectric materials is hindered by their relatively low thermochemical conversion efficiency.…”