Researchers of the SNU ECE Advanced Flexible Electronics Lab (AXEL, Advisor: Yongtaek Hong) suggested the possibility of continuous energy harvesting from body heat. In order to improve the problem of previous thermoelectric generators that show low power generation and last for short durations in air, they developed a hydrogel heat sink based on evaporative cooling. Using various strategies such as reducing thermal contact resistance by flawless contact, increasing reflectivity to sunlight, increasing thermal conductivity, the amount and duration of power generation were greatly improved. This research was presented at the 9th International Conference on Microelectronics and Plasma Technology (January 17th, 2024 / held in Jeju-do, Korea), winning the Best Poster Award.

[Presented Paper]

Lee, D. Jang, and Y. Hong*, “Stretchable Boron Nitride/Poly(vinyl alcohol) Hydrogel Heatsink for Long-Term Body Heat Harvesting in Wearable Thermoelectric Generators,” in The 9th International Conference on Microelectronics and Plasma Technology 2024, ICMAP, January 2024

 
(left) SNU ECE AXEL Researcher Byeonggeol Lee,

(right) Research on Hydrogel Heat Sinks for Continuous Power Generation of Stretchable Thermoelectric Generators

Source:  https://ece.snu.ac.kr/ece/news?md=v&bbsidx=54247

Translated by: Jiyong Yoo, English Editor of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, cyoo7@snu.ac.kr