Polymer‐Based n‐Type Yarn for Organic Thermoelectric Textiles

Abstract

A conjugated‐polymer‐based n‐type yarn for thermoelectric textiles is presented. Thermoelectric textile devices are intriguing power sources for wearable electronic devices. The use of yarns comprising conjugated polymers is desirable because of their potentially superior mechanical properties compared to other thermoelectric materials. While several examples of p‐type conducting yarns exist, there is a lack of polymer‐based n‐type yarns. Here, a regenerated cellulose yarn is spray‐coated with an n‐type conducting‐polymer‐based ink composed of poly(benzimidazobenzophenanthroline) (BBL) and poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI). The n‐type yarns display a bulk electrical conductivity of 8 × 10−3 S cm−1 and Seebeck coefficient of −79 µV K−1. A promising level of air‐stability for at least 13 days can be achieved by applying an additional thermoplastic elastomer coating. A prototype in‐plane thermoelectric textile, produced with the developed n‐type yarns and p‐type yarns, composed of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)‐coated regenerated cellulose, displays a stable device performance in air for at least 4 days with an open‐circuit voltage per temperature difference of 1 mV °C−1. Evidently, polymer‐based n‐type yarns are a viable component for the construction of thermoelectric textile devices.

A Competitive n‐Type OECT Material via Copolymerization of Electron Deficient Building Blocks

“…[1] One of the key advantages of organic semiconductors is their flexibility, which allows for the development of lightweight devices that can conform to various shapes and sizes. [2,3] This as well as the mechanical similarity of organic semiconductors to biological tissue makes organic semiconductors appealing candidates at the juncture between biological and electronic in vivo applications. [4,5] One class of bioelectronic devices, which can only be operated with organic semiconductors as active layer materials, are organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs).…”

Flexible Thermopiles Based on Hydrogels with Carriers Moving in Opposite Directions

“…In addition, the reported thermoelectric power outputs are normalized and designated as “specific power” by dividing them by the mass of the material and the square of the temperature difference . In comparison to the performance of the thermopiles in e-textiles reported previously, ,,− the Seebeck coefficient and specific power in this work are significantly improved.…”

Stretchable Thermoelectric Fibers with Three-Dimensional Interconnected Porous Network for Low-Grade Body Heat Energy Harvesting

“…Wearable bioelectronics enable the change of the current reactive and disease-centric healthcare system to a personalized model with a focus on disease prevention and health promotion. − Sustainably driving them still remains highly desired and a great challenge. − Energy harvesting from the human body and its surrounding offers a promising solution to power wearable bioelectronics without the need for traditional batteries. − The human body can generate a continuous heat output of 40 mW cm –2 to maintain a stable body temperature, resulting in a temperature difference in a range of 5 to 40 K with the surrounding environment. − Thermoelectric materials and generators are widely adopted for body heat energy harvesting, which represents a compelling approach to provide a sustainable source for wearable bioelectronic devices. − …”