There has now come an age when people can charge their battery by wearing it. Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have developed a thermoelectric device that can be worn and charge a battery using body heat, a technology applicable to wearable electronics.
The thermoelectric device can convert heat directly into electrical current. Unlike the existing ceramic board technology, the newly developed device is fabricated on glass fiber and can be made flexible, like textiles. The device is also thin and lightweight and is highly efficient in generating thermoelectric power. For any given weight, the new device can produce 14 times more electricity than existing ceramic boards. In fact, ceramic board-based thermoelectric devices are solid, unbendable, heavy and inefficient, clearly not appropriate for wearable electronics, KAIST stated.
If one of these new thermoelectric devices is made in the form of an arm band that is 10 centimeters by 10 centimeters, it can produce 40 milliwatts of electricity when the outside temperature is around 20 degrees Celsius, enough to operate most semiconductors. If it's made in the form of a T-shirt, it can produce 2 watts and operate a mobile phone. The new device is expected to solve problems of electricity supply, which are obstacles for commercializing wearable electronics. For now, wearable electronics would need a large, heavy battery that needs to be charged or often replaced, making it inconvenient for use.
The researchers, for the first time, fabricated thermoelectric devices on a glass fabric to solve the problems of ceramic board-based devices, drastically improving the ability to generate electricity. In particular, the new devices are useful as wearable, self-powered mobile electronic systems, such as medical sensors. Unlike existing products, the new thermoelectric devices can be made in a way that covers a wide surface and can be mass-produced. It is appropriate for generating electricity for wearable electronics. It can also be applied to many areas with a large amount of waste heat, such as automobiles, factories, airplanes and ships.
The research started in 2010 as part of the Fusion Research Program for Green Technologies at the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning. The results were published in the online version of the Energy & Environmental Science journal on March 14.
By Limb Jae-un
Korea.net Staff Writer
jun2@korea.kr
The thermoelectric device can convert heat directly into electrical current. Unlike the existing ceramic board technology, the newly developed device is fabricated on glass fiber and can be made flexible, like textiles. The device is also thin and lightweight and is highly efficient in generating thermoelectric power. For any given weight, the new device can produce 14 times more electricity than existing ceramic boards. In fact, ceramic board-based thermoelectric devices are solid, unbendable, heavy and inefficient, clearly not appropriate for wearable electronics, KAIST stated.
KAIST researchers have developed a wearable thermoelectric device that can be charged by body heat. (image courtesy of KAIST)
If one of these new thermoelectric devices is made in the form of an arm band that is 10 centimeters by 10 centimeters, it can produce 40 milliwatts of electricity when the outside temperature is around 20 degrees Celsius, enough to operate most semiconductors. If it's made in the form of a T-shirt, it can produce 2 watts and operate a mobile phone. The new device is expected to solve problems of electricity supply, which are obstacles for commercializing wearable electronics. For now, wearable electronics would need a large, heavy battery that needs to be charged or often replaced, making it inconvenient for use.
(From top) A thermoelectric thick film is fabricated on glass fabric using a screen printing technique. Electrode transfer technology is used to produce lightweight, flexible and highly efficient thermoelectric devices. A band-like thermoelectric device fabricated on glass fiber is tested for its power-generating capacity. (photos courtesy of KAIST)
The researchers, for the first time, fabricated thermoelectric devices on a glass fabric to solve the problems of ceramic board-based devices, drastically improving the ability to generate electricity. In particular, the new devices are useful as wearable, self-powered mobile electronic systems, such as medical sensors. Unlike existing products, the new thermoelectric devices can be made in a way that covers a wide surface and can be mass-produced. It is appropriate for generating electricity for wearable electronics. It can also be applied to many areas with a large amount of waste heat, such as automobiles, factories, airplanes and ships.
The research started in 2010 as part of the Fusion Research Program for Green Technologies at the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning. The results were published in the online version of the Energy & Environmental Science journal on March 14.
By Limb Jae-un
Korea.net Staff Writer
jun2@korea.kr
Related Contents
Most popular
- Slew of festivals, events scheduled in downtown Seoul in May
- Korea.net welcomes 2025 K-influencers, Honorary Reporters
- 2025 Honorary Reporter class pledges to spread 'real Korea' worldwide
- US urged to exempt tariffs on Korea in first '2+2' trade talks
- Korean culture festival in Cuba marks 1st year of bilateral ties
