Flexible and stretchable out-of-plane thermoelectric generator with PEDOT:PSS/SWCNT films and serpentine electrodes

Publications

Flexible and stretchable out-of-plane thermoelectric generator with PEDOT:PSS/SWCNT films and serpentine electrodes

Year : 2025

Publisher : Elsevier B.V.

Source Title : Journal of Power Sources

Document Type :

Abstract

Organic thermoelectric generators (TEGs) typically use in-plane thermoelement configurations with rigid electrodes, which limit temperature gradients (ΔT) and mechanical flexibility, thereby hindering their applicability for wearable applications. In this work, a flexible and stretchable TEG with an out-of-plane architecture is proposed, incorporating four pairs of p-type poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate and n-type single-walled carbon nanotube film-based thermoelements. The thermoelements are electrically connected via serpentine-patterned copper electrodes and encapsulated within a soft, skin-compatible Ecoflex elastomer substrate. The films were prepared using vacuum filtration and drop-casting techniques, while the electrodes and substrate were formed through laser patterning and three-dimensional printed mold, respectively. This structural design improves ΔT across the device while maintaining substantial mechanical durability and electrical stability under diverse deformation conditions. Experimental results indicate that the TEG generates an open-circuit voltage of ∼6.09 mV at a ΔT of 29.4 °C, corresponding to a maximum output power of ∼887.5 nW. The device retains stable functionality up to 289 mechanical stretch-release cycles and tolerates elongation up to ∼28 %. As a proof of concept, the TEG was tested on the wrist and dorsal hand, producing maximum output powers of ∼103 nW and ∼94.82 nW, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of the proposed TEG architecture for next-generation wearable energy harvesting applications.