Wasted heat could power the Internet of Things
Wasted heat could power the Internet of Things lead image
In the shadow of the worldwide web, there is a growing network called the Internet of Things, or IoT, comprised of interconnected devices that transfer data without human involvement. In connecting billions of sensors, the IoT could transform the way data is collected and used in many sectors, from healthcare to transportation.
This interconnected future will require reliable and affordable power sources that don’t yet exist. Pataki et al. examine one upcoming solution to create energy for the IoT — organic thermoelectric generators, or TEGs, which harvest waste thermal energy.
The forward-looking paper provides an overview of organic thermoelectric systems and a review of materials and design options for organic TEGs. It also covers potential applications of such TEGs and discuses advances needed in thermoelectric materials to make such applications possible.
“Currently, photovoltaic cells and batteries are a common power source for IoT devices, but no power source is a one-size-fits-all solution,” said author Mario Caironi. “Organic TEGs show huge promise as an alternative class of safe, versatile, and affordable energy harvesters for low-power applications.”
Organic TEGs particularly excel as a low-cost solution to IoT devices operating at night or in the dark, as well as sensors in contact with animal or human bodies. Their further development could enable huge advances in agriculture or fishing industries where they could be biocompatible or even biodegradable.
“I’m excited to see commercialized organic TEGs start to make an impact in real-world applications,” author Nathan Pataki said. “I think this a within reach in the next decade if we continue to work on the materials, design, and fabrication.”
Source: “Solution processed organic thermoelectric generators as energy harvesters for the Internet of Things,” by Nathan Pataki, Pietro Rossi, and Mario Caironi, Applied Physics Letters (2022). The article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0129861 .
