Recent advances in flexible thermoelectric films and devices

• Published in: Nano energy 2021-11, Vol.89, p.106309, Article 106309
• Main Authors: Li, Xiang, Cai, Kefeng, Gao, Mingyuan, Du, Yong, Shen, Shirley
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Composite; Devices; Flexible; Thermoelectric
• ISSN: 2211-2855
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2021.106309

Flexible thermoelectric (TE) generator (f-TEG) assembled with flexible TE films (f-TEFs), which can continuously output power by harvesting the heat energy (body heat and sunlight, etc.), is a very promising candidate to power wearable electronics and sensors. So, f-TEFs have attracted increasing attention in the last decade and made dramatic breakthrough in the last two years. In this paper, f-TEFs, which can be divided into two categories of free-standing flexible films and flexible substrate supported films, prepared by various methods, are reviewed. Strategies for improving the performance of the f-TEFs are proposed. Recent breakthroughs in f-TEFs and how these films are assembled into device designs taking advantage of their mechanical flexibility and TE properties are presented. In addition, the problems in studying f-TEFs and f-TEGs and the possible challenges are also summarized and detailed design guidelines regarding the TE properties and flexibility of the f-TEFs are provided. Recent advances in flexible thermoelectric films and devices were reviewed. [Display omitted] •Flexible films including free-standing films and films on substrates were reviewed.•Different substrates used for various methods for preparing flexible films were introduced.•Some challenges in studying flexible films and devices are summarized.•Some practicable solutions for solving the challenges were proposed.