Large-area radiation-modulated thermoelectric fabrics for high-performance thermal management and electricity generation
Jin-Zhuo Liu, Wangkai Jiang, Sheng Zhuo, Yun Rong, Yuanyuan Li, Hang Lu, Jianchen Hu, Xiao‐Qiao Wang, Weifan Chen, Liang‐Sheng Liao, Ming‐Peng Zhuo, Ke‐Qin Zhang
Abstract
Flexible thermoelectric systems capable of converting human body heat or solar heat into sustainable electricity are crucial for the development of self-powered wearable electronics. However, challenges persist in maintaining a stable temperature gradient and enabling scalable fabrication for their commercialization. Herein, we present a facile approach involving the screen printing of large-scale carbon nanotube (CNT)–based thermoelectric arrays on conventional textile. These arrays were integrated with the radiation-modulated thermoelectric fabrics of electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) membranes for the low-cost and high-performance wearable self-power application. Combined with the excellent photothermal properties of CNTs, the resulting thermoelectric fabric (0.2 square meters) achieves a substantial Δ T of 37 kelvin under a solar intensity of ~800 watt per square meter, yielding a peak power density of 0.20 milliwatt per square meter. This study offers a pragmatic pathway to simultaneously address thermal management and electricity generation in self-powered wearable applications by efficiently harvesting solar energy.