Wearable thermoelectrics for personalized thermoregulation

TLDR

Thermoregulation significantly affects energy use and human comfort, yet cooling technology has remained largely unchanged for over a century, still cooling entire spaces regardless of occupant number. The study aims to realize personalized thermoregulation by developing flexible thermoelectric devices that can meet individual cooling needs without the limitations of current bulk cooling systems. The authors present a wearable thermoelectric device that delivers more than 10 °C of cooling with a coefficient of performance exceeding 1.5, achieving long‑term active cooling through a novel double‑elastomer layer design and high‑ZT rigid pillars, paving the way for energy‑efficient, personalized cooling.

Abstract

Thermoregulation has substantial implications for energy consumption and human comfort and health. However, cooling technology has remained largely unchanged for more than a century and still relies on cooling the entire space regardless of the number of occupants. Personalized thermoregulation by thermoelectric devices (TEDs) can markedly reduce the cooling volume and meet individual cooling needs but has yet to be realized because of the lack of flexible TEDs with sustainable high cooling performance. Here, we demonstrate a wearable TED that can deliver more than 10°C cooling effect with a high coefficient of performance (COP > 1.5). Our TED is the first to achieve long-term active cooling with high flexibility, due to a novel design of double elastomer layers and high-ZT rigid TE pillars. Thermoregulation based on these devices may enable a shift from centralized cooling toward personalized cooling with the benefits of substantially lower energy consumption and improved human comfort.