About this Abstract |
Meeting |
2025 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
Symposium
|
Advanced Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage 2025
|
Presentation Title |
Fabrication and Characterization of Advanced Flexible and Wearable Thermoelectric Cooling Devices |
Author(s) |
Cuilei Li, Lian Li, Boyang Xiang, Edward Fratto, Jayant Kumar, Ramaswamy Nagarajan, Zhiyong Gu |
On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Cuilei Li |
Abstract Scope |
In recent years, wearable and flexible thermoelectric (TE) coolers have emerged as promising solutions for active cooling in both military and civilian applications, addressing the need to mitigate heat stress among soldiers and beyond. Traditional ceramic-packaged thermoelectric devices (TED) suffer from rigidity and limited cooling efficiency, hindering widespread adoption. To overcome these limitations, we have developed an advanced, highly flexible TED utilizing bismuth telluride-based TE pillars, thin copper electrodes, and insulating Ecoflex rubber. Our prototypes were designed and fabricated using Ecoflex films of varying thicknesses, offering different degrees of flexibility. These TEDs were coupled with flexible heatsinks made from a combination of rubber polymer, flexible copper foam, and a phase-change material (PCM). This combination not only enhances the cooling performance but also ensures the overall flexibility of the device. The fabricated TEDs underwent thorough characterization to evaluate their cooling performance, flexibility and durability under various conditions. |
Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
Keywords |
Energy Conversion and Storage, Polymers, Thin Films and Interfaces |