https://en.people.cn/n3/2025/0611/c90000-20326395.html

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-57889-1

Wearable devices such as smartwatches and fitness trackers are advancing rapidly but rely on batteries. Thermoelectric technology, which converts body heat directly into electricity, presents an ideal solution due to its safety, eco-friendliness and lack of mechanical components. However, current flexible thermoelectric materials demonstrate low performance, and most power-generating devices use planar structures that fail to produce adequate electricity for electronic devices.

A research team from the CAS Institute of Electrical Engineering employed a chemical solution method to synthesize fine silver selenide (Ag Se) nanowires. These were combined with graphene and applied to a porous nylon substrate. Using filtration and rapid hot-pressing techniques, the team produced an ultra-high-performance flexible power-generating film. Its innovative structure delivers the highest power density ever reported for flexible thermoelectric devices using silver selenide.

The team then constructed a three-dimensional miniature arch bridge-shaped generator incorporating 100 paired thermoelectric units made from this film. This arched structure makes better use of the temperature differential between human body and environment. The resulting body heat generator achieves world-record for power output for its class — sufficient to operate small devices like electronic watches and hygrothermographs.