Summary: Swedish researchers have developed a revolutionary silk thread coated with conductive polymers that can generate electricity from temperature differences between the body and surrounding air. This breakthrough could enable clothing to power health sensors or charge mobile devices. The thread maintains its performance for over a year and can survive machine washing, marking a significant step toward practical thermoelectric textiles.
Journal: Advanced Science, August 5, 2024, DOI: 10.1002/advs.202406770
Reading time: 4 minutes
Turning Body Heat into Power
Imagine a sweater that could charge your phone while you run, or power sensors to monitor your health – all without batteries. This sci-fi scenario is moving closer to reality, thanks to groundbreaking research from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden.
The key to this innovation is a simple silk thread with a special coating that can transform temperature differences into electrical energy. When worn close to the body, these threads capture the heat differential between skin and air, converting it into usable power.
A Safe and Flexible Solution
“The polymers that we use are bendable, lightweight and are easy to use in both liquid and solid form. They are also non-toxic,” explains Mariavittoria Craighero, lead author of the study. This makes the material ideal for clothing that needs to be both comfortable and functional.
Unlike previous versions that relied on metals, this new thread uses only organic polymers – plastic materials with a special structure that conducts electricity while remaining textile-friendly.
Promising Performance
The researchers demonstrated the technology’s potential through two practical applications: a button and a piece of textile with the special threads sewn in. In testing, the larger fabric generated about 6 millivolts when exposed to a 30-degree Celsius temperature difference – enough to potentially charge portable electronics through a USB connector.
Durability testing showed impressive results. “After seven washes, the thread retained two-thirds of its conducting properties. This is a very good result, although it needs to be improved significantly before it becomes commercially interesting,” notes Craighero.
Future Challenges
While the results are promising, some hurdles remain before this technology reaches your wardrobe. Currently, the material must be produced and sewn by hand – the demonstration fabric alone required four days of needlework. However, the research team sees great potential for automated production in the future.
“We have now shown that it is possible to produce conductive organic materials that can meet the functions and properties that these textiles require. This is an important step forward. There are fantastic opportunities in thermoelectric textiles and this research can be of great benefit to society,” says Christian Müller, the study’s research leader.
Glossary
- Thermoelectric textiles: Fabrics that convert temperature differences into electrical potential
- Polymers: Large molecules made up of many repeated subunits, often forming plastic materials
- Organic polymers: Carbon-based polymers that can conduct electricity
- Millivolt: A unit of electrical potential equal to one-thousandth of a volt
Quiz
- Q: What type of base material is used for the conductive thread?
A: Silk thread - Q: How much voltage did the larger fabric piece generate with a 30-degree temperature difference?
A: About 6 millivolts - Q: How long did it take to sew the demonstration fabric?
A: Four days - Q: How much conductivity remained after seven washes?
A: Two-thirds of its conducting properties
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