LAUSR

Abstract The evolution of flexible thermoelectric generators (TEGs) is an alternative source for driving wearable thermoelectric (TE) devices. Though, commercial fabric based wearable TEGs have not been realized yet. In this study, Bi2Te3 nanostructure was synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal method and deposited on carbon and nickel-copper (Ni-Cu) fabrics to form TE legs. The structural and morphological analyses confirmed the formation of Bi2Te3 and the coating of Bi2Te3 on the fabrics. The electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient of Bi2Te3 coated Ni-Cu fabric was 1.5 and 5.4 times higher than Bi2Te3 coated carbon fabric. Then these p-type (Bi2Te3 coated carbon fabric) and n-type (Bi2Te3 coated Ni-Cu fabric) TE legs were fabricated as an integrated array of 2 thermocouples. The Bi2Te3 modified p-type and n-type thermocouples showed an output voltage oscillating from ~25 μV to ~42 μV with a different body temperature varying from 303 to 312 K. The analysis showed the temperature ranging from below 300 K to and above 293 K will be the more suitable environmental temperature for energy harvesting from the human body.