Stretchable Ag2Se Thermoelectric Fabric with Simple and Nonthermal Fabrication for Wearable Electronics

Abstract

As the field of wearable electronics continues to expand, the integration of inorganic thermoelectric (TE) materials into fabrics has emerged as a promising development due to their excellent TE properties. However, conventional thermal methods for fabricating TE fabrics are unsuitable for wearable applications because of their high temperatures, resulting in rigid TE materials. Herein, a nonthermally fabricated silver selenide (Ag₂Se) TE fabric is developed that can be effectively integrated into wearable applications. Ag₂Se nanoparticles are densely formed within the fabric through a simple in situ chemical reduction process, resulting in remarkable electrical stability even after 10 000 cycles of mechanical deformation, such as stretching and compression. Notably, the fabricated Ag₂Se TE fabric exhibits superior stretchability, stretching ≈1.36 times more than the thermally treated Ag₂Se TE fabrics, while retaining its excellent electrical conductivity. Moreover, the TE unit exhibits 9.80 μW m⁻¹ K⁻² power factor, 134.45 S cm⁻¹ electrical conductivity, and −26.98 μV K⁻¹ Seebeck coefficient at 370 K. A haptic sensing glove based on the Ag₂Se TE fabric as a sensor for detecting potential hazards is demonstrated. The glove effectively distinguishes between simple touch, physical pain, and high-temperature hazards, ensuring user safety and prompt response.