Stretchable Thermoelectrics: Strategies, Performances, and Applications

With the rapid development of intelligent devices, flexible robots, medical monitors, and electronic skins, stretchable wireless power supplies are in great demand. Thermoelectric devices have proven to be promising candidates for wearable electronics owing to their significant conversion capability from low-grade waste heat in the environment to electric energy. Therefore, stretchable thermoelectric generators attract widespread attention and remarkable progress has been made recent years. In this review, various design strategies are comprehensively overviewed from the perspective of material composition design and structure design for enhanced stretchability of thermoelectric materials and devices. Furthermore, the thermoelectric performance and multifunctional applications of stretchable materials and devices are emphasized. Finally, the challenges and prospects in the development and applications of stretchable thermoelectrics are presented.