Nano-Micro Letters, Volume. 16, Issue 1, 151(2024)

Harness High-Temperature Thermal Energy via Elastic Thermoelectric Aerogels

Hongxiong Li1、†, Zhaofu Ding1、†, Quan Zhou1, Jun Chen2, Zhuoxin Liu1, Chunyu Du1, Lirong Liang1、*, and Guangming Chen1、**
Author Affiliations
  • 1College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, People’s Republic of China
  • 2Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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    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.

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    Hongxiong Li, Zhaofu Ding, Quan Zhou, Jun Chen, Zhuoxin Liu, Chunyu Du, Lirong Liang, Guangming Chen. Harness High-Temperature Thermal Energy via Elastic Thermoelectric Aerogels[J]. Nano-Micro Letters, 2024, 16(1): 151

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    Paper Information

    Category: Research Articles

    Received: Dec. 5, 2023

    Accepted: Jan. 24, 2024

    Published Online: Apr. 29, 2024

    The Author Email: Liang Lirong (lianglirong@szu.edu.cn), Chen Guangming (chengm@szu.edu.cn)

    DOI:10.1007/s40820-024-01370-z

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