CU boulder researchers have created a new wearable device that can transform body heat into a biological battery. with a thermoelectric system that takes advantage of temperature differences to produce electricity, the device not only collects energy from the human body, but is also able to repair itself when damaged.
‘in the future, we want to be able to power your wearable electronics without having to include a battery,’ said jianliang xiao, senior author of the new article and associate professor at paul m. mechanical engineering department at CU Boulder.
the wearable thermoelectric device, in this case a ring, is capable of generating about 1 volt of energy for each square centimeter of skin space. this means that it produces less energy than existing batteries, but still enough to power electronic devices such as watches or fitness trackers. the fact that it can heal itself and can be fully recyclable makes it a cleaner alternative to traditional electronics.
‘whenever you use a battery, you are running out of battery and eventually need to replace it,’ said xiao. ‘the good thing about our thermoelectric device is that you can use it and provide constant energy.’
the wearable is made of an elastic material called polyimine with a series of thin thermoelectric chips attached to it, which are also connected to liquid metal wires. ‘our design makes the whole system extensible without introducing too much tension to the thermoelectric material, which can be very fragile,’ xiao continues. ‘thermoelectric generators are in close contact with the human body and can use heat that would normally be dissipated into the environment.’
project information:
Name: wearable thermoelectric generator
researchers: CU Stone
read paper: on here
juliana neira I designboom
February 12, 2021