Stretchable Thermoelectric Generators for Self-Powered Wearable Health Monitoring

As continuous wearable physiological monitoring systems become more ubiquitous in healthcare, there is an increasing need for power sources that can sustainably power wireless sensors and electronics for long durations. Wearable energy harvesting with thermoelectric generators (TEGs), in which body heat is converted to electrical energy, presents a promising way to prolong wireless operation and address battery life concerns. In this work, high performance TEGs are introduced that combine 3D printed elastomers with liquid metal epoxy polymer composites and thermoelectric semiconductors to achieve elastic compliance and mechanical compatibility with the body. The thermoelectric properties are characterized in both energy harvesting (Seebeck) and active heating/cooling (Peltier) modes, and examine the performance of wearable energy harvesting under various conditions such as sitting, walking, and running. When worn on a user's forearm while walking outside, the TEG arrays are able to power circuitry to collect photoplethysmography (PPG) waveform data with a photonic sensor and wirelessly transmit the data to an external PC using an on-board Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radio. This represents a significant step forward on the path to sustainable body-worn smart electronics. To prolong the lifetimes of wearable devices and increase sustainability, wearable energy harvesting solutions are needed to supplement and replace batteries. This work describes a novel fabrication approach using liquid metal-based composite materials to make high-performance thermoelectric generators soft and stretchable. These devices are integrated into user testing, including demonstrating PPG health monitoring powered solely by body heat. image