Deviceization of high-performance and flexible Ag2Se films for electronic skin and servo rotation angle control
Yuexing Chen, Xiao‐Lei Shi, Junze Zhang, Mohammad Nisar, Zhong-Zhao Zha, Zi-Nan Zhong, Fu Li, Guangxing Liang, Jingting Luo, Meng Li, Tianyi Cao, Wei‐Di Liu, Dongyan Xu, Zhuanghao Zheng, Zhi‐Gang Chen
Abstract
Ag2Se shows significant potential for near-room-temperature thermoelectric applications, but its performance and device design are still evolving. In this work, we design a novel flexible Ag2Se thin-film-based thermoelectric device with optimized electrode materials and structure, achieving a high output power density of over 65 W m−2 and a normalized power density up to 3.68 μW cm−2 K−2 at a temperature difference of 42 K. By fine-tuning vapor selenization time, we strengthen the (013) orientation and carrier mobility of Ag2Se films, reducing excessive Ag interstitials and achieving a power factor of over 29 μW cm−1 K−2 at 393 K. A protective layer boosts flexibility of the thin film, retaining 90% performance after 1000 bends at 60°. Coupled with p-type Sb2Te3 thin films and rational simulations, the device shows rapid human motion response and precise servo motor control, highlighting the potential of high-performance Ag2Se thin films in advanced applications. The authors design a flexible Ag2Se-based thermoelectric device with optimized electrode materials, structure, and selenization time, capable of various applications including rapid response to human motion signals as electronic skin.