Functionalized materials and geometric designs of thermoelectric devices for smart wearable applications

Abstract

Wearable thermoelectric devices provide a favorable solution for wearable electronics, due to their ability to harvest electricity or regulate human body temperature. To this end, there have been extensive studies of thermoelectric devices for wearable applications, employing diverse materials, structures, designs, and other possible techniques to improve performance. In this paper, we present a comprehensive review of recent wearable thermoelectric device works that examine how the materials and design geometry properties can influence the key performance parameters, along with potential real-life applications. The review mainly discusses three main factors of materials, geometry, and configuration modules, along with the strengths and weaknesses of the corresponding materials and designs. Finally, we evaluate the prominent wearable applications based on the diverse materials, structures, and module design requirements, along with future outlook and potential opportunities for next generation thermoelectric wearables.