A T-Shirt to Convert Body Heat Into Electricity

Scientists have developed a new light weight, conductive material which can convert body heat into electricity, and lead to t-shirts or arm bands that generate power for wearable electronics. The prototypes, developed by researchers at North Carolina State University in the US, are lightweight, conform to the shape of the body, and can generate far more electricity than previous lightweight heat harvesting technologies. The researchers also identified the optimal site on the body for heat harvesting. Wearable thermoelectric generators (TEGs) generate electricity by making use of the temperature differential between your body and the ambient air.

Previous approaches either made use of heat sinks – which are heavy, stiff and bulky – or were able to generate power only one microwatt or less of per square centimeter. This technology generates up to 20 microwatt per square centimeter and doesn’t use a heat sink, making it lighter and much more comfortable. The new design begins with a layer of thermally conductive material that rests on the skin and spreads out the heat. The material is topped with a polymer layer that prevents the heat from dissipating through to the outside air.