Flexible Mesh-Structured Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Thermoelectric Generators with Enhanced Heat Dissipation for Wearable Applications.

Abstract

Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) based on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) offer a promising approach for powering sensors in wearable systems. However, achieving high performance remains challenging because the high thermal conductivity of SWCNTs limits the temperature gradient within the device. We previously developed flexible SWCNT-TEGs with enhanced heat dissipation by dip-coating SWCNTs onto mesh sheets; however, their performance in real wearable environments had not been evaluated. In this study, we demonstrate the practical operation of these SWCNT-TEGs under conditions such as fingertip contact and cap-based wear. The output voltage increased proportionally with the number of fingers touching the device, and a stable voltage of 6.1 mV was obtained when the TEG was mounted on a cap and worn outdoors at 7 °C. These findings highlight the promising potential of flexible SWCNT-TEGs as power sources for next-generation wearable technologies, including human-computer interaction and health monitoring.