Toward Stretchable Self‐Powered Sensors Based on the Thermoelectric Response of PEDOT:PSS/Polyurethane Blends

Abstract

The development of new flexible and stretchable sensors addresses the demands of upcoming application fields like internet-of-things, soft robotics, and health/structure monitoring. However, finding a reliable and robust power source to operate these devices, particularly in off-the-grid, maintenance-free applications, still poses a great challenge. The exploitation of ubiquitous temperature gradients, as the source of energy, can become a practical solution, since the recent discovery of the outstanding thermoelectric properties of a conductive polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). Unfortunately the use of PEDOT:PSS is currently constrained by its brittleness and limited processability. Herein, PEDOT:PSS is blended with a commercial elastomeric polyurethane (Lycra), to obtain tough and processable self-standing films. A remarkable strainat-break of ≈700% is achieved for blends with 90 wt% Lycra, after ethylene glycol treatment, without affecting the Seebeck voltage. For the first time the viability of these novel blends as stretchable self-powered sensors is demonstrated.

Flexible and Stretchable Self‐Powered Multi‐Sensors Based on the N‐Type Thermoelectric Response of Polyurethane/Nax(Ni‐ett)n Composites

“…[15] 1 wt% solid content PEDOT:PSS (Clevios PH1000, Heraeus GmbH) DMSO dispersion was mixed with 1 wt% Lycra/DMSO dispersion with a proportion of 1:9. [15] 1 wt% solid content PEDOT:PSS (Clevios PH1000, Heraeus GmbH) DMSO dispersion was mixed with 1 wt% Lycra/DMSO dispersion with a proportion of 1:9.…”

“…Smart electronic devices are in Organic thermoelectrics (OTE) are new materials of great interest owing to their lower toxicity, abundance of constitutive elements, and ease in processing by various casting techniques. [15] However, all of these studies are all based on p-type OTE materials studied so far. The first work is the poly(3,4ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS)coated foam for sensing both pressure and temperature.…”

Design, Performance, and Application of Thermoelectric Nanogenerators

“…Various kinds of TEGs can achieve power generation and heating/refrigeration, showing many merits such as high sensitivity to temperature change and emission‐free operation. These advantages enable TEGs to be utilized in different fields, including self‐powered sensor systems, automotive and control devices, water condensation, and implantable/wearable electronics …”

Thin Film Tin Selenide (SnSe) Thermoelectric Generators Exhibiting Ultralow Thermal Conductivity

“…The high surface area of these films also opens the possibility for molecular adsorption as a gas sensor, [44] which could be self-powered. [45] Furthermore, the network morphology opens up possibilities to tune ZT by fine modulation of transport barriers at the grain boundaries.…”