Flexible Ag<sub>2</sub>Se Film with Enhanced Thermoelectric Performance
Santosh Kumar, Manjusha Battabyal, Dillip K. Satapathy
Abstract
Flexible thermoelectric devices offer huge potential for wearable electronics due to their ability to generate green energy by using low-grade heat. However, achieving both high thermoelectric performance and flexibility simultaneously remains a challenge for these devices. Here, we present a simple and cost-effective method for fabricating a high-performance flexible inorganic–organic thermoelectric film by depositing Ag 2 Se on a porous nylon membrane. The resulting Ag 2 Se/nylon film exhibits an ultrahigh power factor of approximately 3.4 mW/mK 2 at 300 K, the highest value reported for flexible thermoelectric films to date. The Ag 2 Se/nylon film also demonstrates remarkable flexibility, confirming its potential application in wearable electronics. A thermoelectric module constructed using eight strips of the processed Ag 2 Se/nylon film generates an impressive output voltage of 65 mV and an output power of 30 μW at a 30 K temperature difference. Additionally, the fabricated module maintains strong flexibility, producing more than 2 mV when wrapped around a human arm with a temperature difference of 1.6 K. This work highlights the significant potential of inorganic–organic films for flexible thermoelectric applications in wearable and implantable devices.