Flexible and Foldable Films of SWCNT Thermoelectric Composites and an S-Shape Thermoelectric Generator with a Vertical Temperature Gradient

Organic thermoelectric (TE) composites and flexible devices have gained a rapid development in recent decade. Herein, a flexible and foldable film of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate)/single-walled carbon nanotube (PEDOT:PSS/SWCNT) composite is fabricated by post-treatment with an ionic liquid (IL), and an S-shape TE generator (TEG) is designed to harvest heat from human body via a vertical temperature gradient. After being post-treated with IL of bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide lithium salt (LiTFSI), the PEDOT:PSS/SWNCT composite displays an improved electrical conductivity from 1063 ± 80 to 1562 ± 170 S cm–1, with an almost constant Seebeck coefficient of ∼21.9 μV K–1 with a 30 wt % content of SWCNT. The TE properties exhibit excellent stability against repeated bending or folding cycles. Furthermore, an S-shape architecture is designed for TEG assembling, which enables effective utilization of a vertical temperature gradient between the human body and surroundings. The present study proposes a universal strategy for harvesting heat using a wearable TEG via a vertical temperature gradient, which represents great prospects for application in self-powered wearable electronics.