Thermoelectric energy harvesting electronic skin (e-skin) Patch with reconfigurable carbon nanotube clays

• Published in: Nano energy 2021-09, Vol.87, p.106156, Article 106156
• Main Authors: Kim, Min Hyouk, Cho, Chang Hee, Kim, Jun Su, Nam, Tae Uk, Kim, Woo-Sik, Il Lee, Tae, Oh, Jin Young
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon nanotube; Electronic skin; Self-healing; Stretchable electronics; Thermoelectric generator; Wearable energy device
• ISSN: 2211-2855
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2021.106156

Advances in the electronic skin (e-skin) have led to the next electronic paradigm, which involves the integration of devices with the human body. However, skin-adaptable permanent power technology is immature in terms of improving sensitivity to explosion hazard and facilitating wire/wireless charging, thus restricting the practical application of the e-skin. Here, we present a thermoelectric clay made of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and non-ionic surfactants as viscous additives for use in skin-adaptable permanent power sources for the e-skin. The controlled kneading ratio of the CNT to the viscous additive (1:5) makes the thermoelectric clay reconfigurable with a lower elastic modulus than that of the human skin, providing skin adaptability with high elongation up to 100% and remendability after chapping. Through chemical doping, we produced n-type and p-type thermoelectric clays, optimized their electrical conductivities and Seebeck coefficients, and obtained enhanced ZT values. The thermoelectric output power was preserved over 80% of the initial value even more than one year. Finally, a skin-adaptable thermoelectric power patch for the e-skin was fabricated with five pairs of n-type and p-type thermoelectric clays, and its performance was demonstrated. The patch was successfully operated under severe folding, twisting, stretching on the human skin and even when punctured state at room temperature. Thermoelectric energy harvesting electronics skin (e-skin) patch consisted reconfigurable p-n thermoelectric clay matrix which is highly skin-adaptable and mechanically durable for extreme situation such as hammer impact and drilling. [Display omitted] •Thermoelectric energy harvesting electronic skin (e-Skin) patch with reconfigurable carbon nanotube clay is presented for skin-adaptable semi-permanent power supply with mechanical durability for the e-skin.•The reconfigurable thermoelectric clay made of chemically doped CNTs and viscous additive is highly soft, stretchable and repairable and even air-stable.•The thermoelectric e-Skin patch with the reconfigurable CNT clays has skin-adaptability with mechanical durability against hammer hitting and even puncturing.