Soft, body conformable electronics for thermoregulation enabled by kirigami

The application of thermoelectric devices (TEDs) for personalized thermoregulation is attractive for saving energy while balancing the quality of life. TEDs that directly attach to human skin remarkably minimized the energy wasted for cooling the entire environment. However, facing the extreme dynamic geometry change and strain of human skin, conventional TEDs cannot align with the contour of our bodies for the best thermoregulation effect. Hence, we designed a kirigami-based wearable TED with excellent water vapor permeability, flexibility, and conformability. Numerical analysis and experimental results reveal that our product can withstand various types of large mechanical deformation without circuit rupture. The stated outcome and proposed facile approach not only reinforce the development of wearable TEDs but also offer an innovative opportunity for different electronics that require high conformability.

Graphic abstract