articleNano EnergyFeb 5, 2026HYBRID OA

Evaporative hydrogels for high-performance ambient body heat harvesting via thermoelectric

Chinese University of Hong Kong · Nanyang Technological University · +10 more institutions

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Abstract

The increasing demand in power of modern environmental and health sensors have spurred the development of ambient energy harvesting to reduce reliance in battery. Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) are a promising technology, which convert waste or body heat into electricity. However, their power output is severely limited by the thermal impedance mismatch, particularly between the human skin and TEG interface. This work introduces a novel approach to overcome this limitation by integrating a hydrogel into the TEG system. It has been revealed that the enthalpy from the hydrogel's water evaporation effectively achieves thermal impedance matching while simultaneously maximizing the heat flux. Furthermore, by…

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6
total citations
FWCI
38.83
Percentile
100%
References
42
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Authors

13

Topics & keywords

Keywords
  • Power density
  • Impedance matching
  • Thermoelectric effect
  • Thermoelectric generator
  • Energy harvesting
  • Thermoelectric cooling
  • Work (physics)
  • Evaporation
UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • Affordable and clean energy
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