Issue

Vol. 16 (2024)

Harness High-Temperature Thermal Energy via Elastic Thermoelectric Aerogels

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-024-01370-z
Hongxiong Li
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, People’s Republic of China
Zhaofu Ding
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, People’s Republic of China
Quan Zhou
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, People’s Republic of China
Jun Chen
Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Zhuoxin Liu
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, People’s Republic of China
Chunyu Du
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, People’s Republic of China
Lirong Liang
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, People’s Republic of China
Guangming Chen
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, People’s Republic of China

Corresponding Author: Guangming Chen

chengm@szu.edu.cn

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 16 (2024), Article Number: 151

Abstract

Despite notable progress in thermoelectric (TE) materials and devices, developing TE aerogels with high-temperature resistance, superior TE performance and excellent elasticity to enable self-powered high-temperature monitoring/warning in industrial and wearable applications remains a great challenge. Herein, a highly elastic, flame-retardant and high-temperature-resistant TE aerogel, made of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)/single-walled carbon nanotube (PEDOT:PSS/SWCNT) composites, has been fabricated, displaying attractive compression-induced power factor enhancement. The as-fabricated sensors with the aerogel can achieve accurately pressure stimuli detection and wide temperature range monitoring. Subsequently, a flexible TE generator is assembled, consisting of 25 aerogels connected in series, capable of delivering a maximum output power of 400 μW when subjected to a temperature difference of 300 K. This demonstrates its outstanding high-temperature heat harvesting capability and promising application prospects for real-time temperature monitoring on industrial high-temperature pipelines. Moreover, the designed self-powered wearable sensing glove can realize precise wide-range temperature detection, high-temperature warning and accurate recognition of human hand gestures. The aerogel-based intelligent wearable sensing system developed for firefighters demonstrates the desired self-powered and highly sensitive high-temperature fire warning capability. Benefitting from these desirable properties, the elastic and high-temperature-resistant aerogels present various promising applications including self-powered high-temperature monitoring, industrial overheat warning, waste heat energy recycling and even wearable healthcare.


Highlights:
1 A thermoelectric aerogel of highly elastic, flame-retardant and high-temperature-resistant PEDOT:PSS/SWCNT composite is fabricated.
2 The assembled thermoelectric generator generates a maximum output power of 400 μW at a temperature difference of 300 K.
3 The self-powered wearable sensing glove can achieve wide-range temperature detection, complex hand motion recognition and high-temperature warning.
4 The intelligent fire warning system enables highly sensitive and repeatable monitoring and alarm capabilities for high-temperature fire sources.

Keywords

Thermoelectrics Aerogel Self-powered High-temperature monitoring High-temperature warning
Li, Hongxiong, Zhaofu Ding, Quan Zhou, Jun Chen, Zhuoxin Liu, Chunyu Du, Lirong Liang, and Guangming Chen. 2024. “Harness High-Temperature Thermal Energy via Elastic Thermoelectric Aerogels”. Nano-Micro Letters 16 (March):151. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-024-01370-z.
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