Professor Naebu of Shibaura Institute of Technology has developed a wearable thermoelectric generator that can generate electricity stably with a slight temperature difference between body temperature and outside air temperature, and its manufacturing method.By using a heat insulating melamine sponge, flexibility, light weight and low cost have been realized.
A wearable thermoelectric generator (w-TEG) can continuously convert body temperature into electricity to drive electronic devices.However, the poor power generation efficiency of thermoelectric materials, the small temperature difference when worn, the heavy weight, and the need for flexibility hinder the application of w-TEG.In addition, in the structural design based on the conventional numerical analysis, forced cooling was used, so that lateral heat transfer was ignored.
In this research, we used a method called "finite element simulation" to find elements that could be clues for practical use, and designed the optimum w-TEG.By using a melamine sponge with extremely low thermal conductivity (0.03W / mK) as a sealing material, a new "new" that achieves excellent bending durability, light weight, breathability, and low cost without using a cooling heat sink. π-type w-TEG ”was produced.
実証実験では、わずかな温度差5K（5℃）で静止時に1平方センチメートルあたり7マイクロワット（μW/cm2）、歩行時（風速毎秒1メートル）に29マイクロワット（μW/cm2）を発電することを確認。従来品に用いられるポリジメチルシロキサン（PDMS）より柔軟性があり、曲げ張力が5分の1程度だった。
The heat generator that was successfully manufactured this time can drive a smartwatch with an area of 3.61 square centimeters, a thickness of 5 millimeters, a weight of 1.75 grams, a bending tension of 0.03N, and a cost of about US $ 6.5 (about 710 yen).
In the future, in collaboration with semiconductor and thermoelectric device related companies, the company plans to design and develop it as a minute power supply device with the aim of applying it to specific charging equipment.
