How we converted human heat to electricity
Scientists of NUST “MISiS” together with colleagues from the Technological University of Lulelo (Sweden) and the Jena University named after Friedrich Schiller (Germany) developed the world's first thermoelectric material with ordered nanotubes.
Due to its polymer nature, it is flexible, and the addition of nanotubes several times increases its electrical conductivity. In the future, such material can be used to charge mobile devices without an additional power source: one such bracelet or case would allow charging a watch or phone directly from the heat of the human body. An article on development is published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials .
Thermoelectric materials - chemical compounds or metal alloys that are able to convert heat into electricity due to the difference in temperature at the points of connection of conductors to the plate. This effect was discovered back in 1821 by the German physicist Thomas Seebeck. For a long time, various alloys were used as materials for thermal generators. However, they do not give very high efficiency - about 10%. In addition, for maximum efficiency, plate heating should be on the order of several hundred degrees.
')
In recent years, scientists have begun to look for an alternative to alloy-based thermoelectrics - and found it in polymer materials. Such materials work even at room temperature, are non-toxic, have low thermal conductivity (they minimize the dissipation of heat received outside). In addition, polymers, unlike metal alloys, are very flexible - almost any desired shape can be given to such a thermogenerator.
A team of scientists from the Department of Functional Nanosystems and High-Temperature Materials of NUST “MISiS” together with colleagues from the Technological University of Lulelo (Sweden) and the Jena University of Friedrich Schiller (Germany) created the world's first modified version of the polymer with elongated and ordered nanotubes. Scientists used one of the most promising polymers - polyethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT). It has high electrical conductivity, which can be further enhanced by chemical inclusions in the polymer matrix.
(Above) Schematic illustration of the preparation of a TE composite using a PVB layer for transfer on curved or flexible substrates. (Bottom) VA-CNTF-based composite after successfully carrying onto three different substrates, including highly curved surfaces and flexible supports. These images demonstrate the potential of new materials as building blocks for various TE applications, including irregularly shaped conformal coating, precise coating on flexible substrates, and the creation of bendable films.
First, a vertically oriented “forest” of carbon nanotubes was grown on a semiconductor substrate, then they were elongated horizontally. The nanotubes were “flooded” with polymer at the top. Since nanotubes often form clusters at one point (agglomeration) during the growth process, to neutralize such clusters, the material was post-treated with dimethyl sulfoxide and ethylene glycol.
After a full treatment cycle, the material power factor increased by more than 4 times, to ~ 92 µW · mK-2.
According to the participant of the scientific group from the side of NUST “MISiS”, Ph.D. N., Khabib Yusupov , with such characteristics of the material, products from it will be able to convert even the heat of the human body (in contrast to room temperature) into useful electricity. For example, having made a bracelet for watches or a case for a mobile phone from such a polymer, it will be possible to power devices on an ongoing basis, without an additional source of electricity.
Due to its polymer nature, it is flexible, and the addition of nanotubes several times increases its electrical conductivity. In the future, such material can be used to charge mobile devices without an additional power source: one such bracelet or case would allow charging a watch or phone directly from the heat of the human body. An article on development is published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials .
Thermoelectric materials - chemical compounds or metal alloys that are able to convert heat into electricity due to the difference in temperature at the points of connection of conductors to the plate. This effect was discovered back in 1821 by the German physicist Thomas Seebeck. For a long time, various alloys were used as materials for thermal generators. However, they do not give very high efficiency - about 10%. In addition, for maximum efficiency, plate heating should be on the order of several hundred degrees.
')
In recent years, scientists have begun to look for an alternative to alloy-based thermoelectrics - and found it in polymer materials. Such materials work even at room temperature, are non-toxic, have low thermal conductivity (they minimize the dissipation of heat received outside). In addition, polymers, unlike metal alloys, are very flexible - almost any desired shape can be given to such a thermogenerator.
A team of scientists from the Department of Functional Nanosystems and High-Temperature Materials of NUST “MISiS” together with colleagues from the Technological University of Lulelo (Sweden) and the Jena University of Friedrich Schiller (Germany) created the world's first modified version of the polymer with elongated and ordered nanotubes. Scientists used one of the most promising polymers - polyethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT). It has high electrical conductivity, which can be further enhanced by chemical inclusions in the polymer matrix.
(Above) Schematic illustration of the preparation of a TE composite using a PVB layer for transfer on curved or flexible substrates. (Bottom) VA-CNTF-based composite after successfully carrying onto three different substrates, including highly curved surfaces and flexible supports. These images demonstrate the potential of new materials as building blocks for various TE applications, including irregularly shaped conformal coating, precise coating on flexible substrates, and the creation of bendable films.
First, a vertically oriented “forest” of carbon nanotubes was grown on a semiconductor substrate, then they were elongated horizontally. The nanotubes were “flooded” with polymer at the top. Since nanotubes often form clusters at one point (agglomeration) during the growth process, to neutralize such clusters, the material was post-treated with dimethyl sulfoxide and ethylene glycol.
After a full treatment cycle, the material power factor increased by more than 4 times, to ~ 92 µW · mK-2.
According to the participant of the scientific group from the side of NUST “MISiS”, Ph.D. N., Khabib Yusupov , with such characteristics of the material, products from it will be able to convert even the heat of the human body (in contrast to room temperature) into useful electricity. For example, having made a bracelet for watches or a case for a mobile phone from such a polymer, it will be possible to power devices on an ongoing basis, without an additional source of electricity.
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/461345/
All Articles