Stretchable thermoelectric material and thermoelectric device including the same
A thermoelectric material includes a stretchable polymer, and a thermoelectric structure and an electrically conductive material that are mixed together with the stretchable polymer. The thermoelectric material may be applied to self-power generating wearable electronic apparatuses.
1. A thermoelectric material, comprising:
a stretchable polymer; and
a thermoelectric structure and electrically conductive material that are mixed together in the stretchable polymer, the thermoelectric structure including a carbon-containing material, wherein
the carbon-containing material includes carbon nanotubes,
the carbon nanotubes are arranged in an array, and
lengths of the carbon nanotubes are parallel to each other.
2. The thermoelectric material of claim 1 , wherein the stretchable polymer includes at least one of poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene) (SIS), poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene) (SBS), poly(styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene) (SEBS), polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF), nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), polyurethane (PU), poly(dimetylsiloxane) (PDMS), polyurethane acrylate (PUA), perfluoropolyether (PFPE), polyester (PE), polybutadiene (PB), and polyisoprene.
3. The thermoelectric material of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive material includes metal nanoparticles.
4. The thermoelectric material of claim 3 , wherein
the carbon nanotubes embedded in the stretchable polymer, and
the metal nanoparticles are adsorbed on the carbon nanotubes.
5. The thermoelectric material of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive material includes at least one of a carbon nanomaterial and a metallic material.
6. The thermoelectric material of claim 5 , wherein the metallic material includes at least one of gold (Au), silver (Ag), platinum (Pt), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), aluminum (Al), palladium (Pd), rhodium (Rh), and ruthenium (Ru).
7. The thermoelectric material of claim 1 , wherein
the stretchable polymer has uniaxial stretchability in a first direction that corresponds to a length of the stretchable polymer, and
the first direction crosses a direction of the lengths of the carbon nanotubes.
8. The thermoelectric material of claim 1 , wherein the stretchable polymer includes at least one of poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene) (SIS), poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene) (SBS), poly(styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene) (SEBS), polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF), nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), polyurethane (PU), polyurethane acrylate (PUA), perfluoropolyether (PFPE), polybutadiene (PB), and polyisoprene.