Thermoelectric cloths using carbon nanotube yarn for wearable electronics

Abstract

Abstract The need for energy harvesting technology as a power source for isolated small electronic devices is increasing. Especially in wearable applications, body heat is one of the promising energy sources, and therefore thermoelectric technology is attracting attention. For such applications, the ease of installation and the user’s comfortableness should be emphasized against coldness, stiffness, or stickiness. It is also essential to measure whether the required power can be generated at an acceptable cost without increasing or decreasing the naturally occurring heat flow. In this paper, we review the progress of thermoelectric cloths using carbon nanotube yarns, which have been studied by the authors with a consistent policy, including experimental and technical aspects, and propose a direction in which wearable thermoelectric generators should be developed. We hope this paper will also serve as a hint for those conducting similar research.