Optimization of the geometric parameters and structural design of a flexible thermoelectric generator for efficient energy harvesting to power wearable electronics

One approach to recycling thermal energy involves using a flexible thermoelectric generator. The goal of this research is to maximize the generator's performance by determining the ideal geometric parameters and designing the structure in detail. The research combines numerical simulations and experiments to develop an efficient, flexible thermoelectric generator that converts heat from human body temperature into electrical power. The structural design incorporates heteromorphic electrodes and a polyimide substrate with a copper-printed circuit board. The legs of the thermoelectric generator are composed of n-type and p-type semiconductor materials, namely bismuth selenium telluride (Bi_1.7Te_3.7Se_0.3) for the n-type and bismuth antimony telluride (Bi_0.4Sb_1.6Te₃) for the p-type. The flexible thermoelectric generator's output power is analyzed under various conditions, including heat source temperatures and dissipation scenarios. Integrating a heteromorphic electrode, optimized at 0.00975m height and a 0.1089 fill factor, with other optimal selected geometric parameters significantly enhances the flexible thermoelectric generator's performance. By testing with load resistances ranging from 0.24Ω to 0.91Ω and with 20 °C ambient and 36 °C heat source temperatures, the device achieved a maximum power output of 232.064 μW. This advancement effectively powers small-scale wearable electronics with lower power demands, crucial for advancing energy-efficient wearable technology.