Scientists Develop Body Heat-Powered Battery Film: A Breakthrough in Wearable Tech
A โteamโ of researchers from โฃQueensland University ofโข Technology (QUT) has made a significant breakthrough in โฃenergy โขharvesting technology,โ developing a thin,โค flexible film capable ofโ generating power โคfrom human body heat. This โขinnovation promises to revolutionize โwearable electronics and potentially impact other technologicalโ sectors.
Professor Zhi-Gang Chen, a lead researcher at QUT, described theโ findings as a “breakthroughโข in creating flexible thermoelectric technology that can convert body heat into power.” He emphasized the potential of this sustainable energy source to power a new generation of wearable devices. “A flexibleโฃ thermoelectric deviceโ can be โworn comfortably on the skin, which โขeffectively converts the temperature difference between the human body and the โsurrounding air into electricity,”โ Chen stated in a QUTโข press release.
Beyond Wearables: Cooling Electronics and More
The โapplications extend beyond powering wearables. โ Professor Chen explained that the film’s thin profile allows for integration โinto smartphones and laptops,where it could actively cool electronic chips,improving efficiency and potentially extending battery life. “Other โฃpotential applications start from personal temperature management. Bodyโค heat can power heating, ventilation and airโ conditioning โขsystems applied to the body,” he added.
Previous attempts to create bodyโ heat-powered technology haveโ faced challenges, according to Chen.โข “Similar โefforts had been madeโค to produce technology โคpowered by body heat.However, the material is less flexible, production is complicated, performance is inadequate, and costs are high.As aโ result,previous creations โขwere challenging to commercialize,” he noted.
A Cost-Effective and Scalable โฃSolution
The QUT team overcame these hurdles by focusing on bismuth telluride, a semiconductor known for its thermoelectric properties.โ They created a cost-effective thermoelectric filmโ using a โขnovel techniqueโ involving nanocrystals and screen โprinting. โค This method allows for large-scale โคproduction ofโค A4-sized sheets of the material. The processโ includes a sinteringโ stage, where theโ film is heated to bond the particles without melting.
Researcher Wenyi Chen highlighted the โฃversatility of their approach.”The versatility of this material shows the various applications of this method that can advance flexible โthermoelectric โtechnology,”โข he said, adding that the โtechnique couldโ be adapted for other materials, such as silverโ selenide, offering potentially cheaper and more sustainable alternatives.
The โขresearch, published โin the journal Science on december 12, 2024, represents a significant leap forward in energy โคharvesting and โขpromises to impact various aspects of technology, from wearable health monitors to more efficientโค computing devices. The potential for cost savings โฃand scalabilityโ makes this breakthrough particularly exciting for the future of sustainable technology.
(Source: queenslandโข University of Technology)