Abstract
The thermoelectric (TE) fiber, based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), which possesses good flexibility, a low cost, good environmental stability and non-toxicity, has attracted more attention due to its promising applications in energy harvesting. This study presents a self-powered flexible sensor based on the TE properties of the hollow PEDOT:PSS fiber. The hollow structure of the fiber was synthesized using traditional wet spinning. The sensor was applied to an application for finger touch, and showed both long-term stability and good reliability towards external force. The sensor had a high scalability and was simple to develop. When figures touched the sensors, a temperature difference of 6 °C was formed between the figure and the outside environment. The summit output voltages of the sensors with 1 to 5 legs gradually increased from 90.8 μV to 404 μV. The time needed for the output voltage to reach 90% of its peak value is only 2.7 s. Five sensors of legs ranging from 1 to 5 were used to assemble the selector. This study may provide a new proposal to produce a self-powered, long-term and stable skin sensor, which is suitable for wearable devices in personal electronic fields.
Highlights
Thermoelectric (TE) materials can directly convert heat energy into electrical energy
This study focused on an exploration of a figure touching a sensor based on PEDOT:PSS fibers
Sensors: legs 1 to 5 of PEDOT:PSS fibers were twined on two sides of the PDMS layer
Summary
Thermoelectric (TE) materials can directly convert heat energy into electrical energy. Compared with film or bulk materials, TE fibers with a small physical size arranged from several to hundred microns can enable various devices to be smaller and become more lighter and more portable They can possess high flexibility and favorable electrical properties. A flexible self-powered skin sensor is presented, which possesses high reliability, reasonable stability, and good mechanical properties. These sensors with different fiber leg numbers can output a voltage based on temperature differences. Owing to the TE properties of PEDOT:PSS fibers, the voltage can be generated rapidly once one touches the sensor These TE fibers prepared by using wet spinning were encapsulated on a low-thermal-conductivity polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layer, which acted as a heat barrier. Our study may provide a reference for the development of a self-powered, long-term, and stable skin sensor for wearable devices in personal electronic fields
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