Body Heat Powers Wearables?
Breakthroughs in thermoelectric materials may allow smartwatches and wearables to run on body heat alone [https://wareable.com/wearable-tech/thermoelectric-material-research-smartwatches-wearables-chinese-academy-sciences-paper]. When will this tech be ready for consumer devices?
The Chinese Academy of Sciences' Shanghai Institute of Ceramics published a paper detailing a new thermoelectric material. It's a composite of carbon nanotubes and inorganic thermoelectric material. The material reportedly maintains high performance while also being flexible. This addresses a key challenge, as previous materials were often brittle and less effective when bent. Researchers are optimistic that the improved material could lead to self-powered wearable electronic devices. Prototypes have apparently shown promise in powering devices using body heat.
