Executive Summary : | Wearable electronic devices require efficient and long-lasting power sources, and traditional batteries are often replaced or recharged. Photo-thermoelectric generators (PTEGs) have gained popularity due to their advantages over traditional batteries, including long operational life, low noise, green energy, no moving components, and easy maintenance. PTEGs can operate simultaneously in the presence of sunlight and body heat. Thin film PTEGs consist of two components: the photothermal layer (converting solar energy to thermal energy) and the thermoelectric layer (converting thermal energy to electrical energy). Researchers are interested in plasmonic metal nanoparticles (NPs) due to their tailorable absorption properties across the electromagnetic spectrum and localized heating via localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). The morphology of NPs can be tuned to control localized heat dissipation. In India, researchers propose integrating expertise in plasmonics and thermoelectrics to develop a plasmonic-induced PTEG with better output power for wearable energy harvesting applications. By using appropriate materials for both plasmonic and thermoelectric systems, PTEGs can serve as a non-battery alternative energy source for wearable applications. Preliminary simulations have confirmed that the photothermal effect of metal NPs is largely dependent on the size and shape of the NPs. The project will focus on fabricating and optimizing thin-film based thermoelectric devices, followed by preparing and optimizing Ag-based plasmonic NPs with various shapes. A wearable prototype LSPR-based PTEG will be provided by the end of the project, capable of delivering high-power output and operating in sunlight and body heat. |