Researchers have created a flexible semiconductor that efficiently converts body heat into electricity through atomic vacancy engineering. This innovation opens new possibilities for wearable devices, combining flexibility and high thermoelectric performance.
Researchers at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) have discovered a new material that could serve as a flexible semiconductor for wearable devices. Their approach centers on manipulating the spaces between atoms, known as “vacancies,” within a crystal structure.
In a study published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications, the team demonstrated how “vacancy engineering” significantly improves the performance of an AgCu(Te,Se,S) semiconductor, an alloy composed of silver, copper, tellurium, selenium, and sulfur. By carefully controlling atomic vacancies, they enhanced the material’s ability to convert body heat into electricity, a key function for powering wearable technologies.
Vacancy engineering involves the deliberate creation and management of empty atomic sites within a crystal. By tuning these vacancies, researchers can modify a material’s mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties, leading to innovations such as more efficient energy conversion and improved flexibility.
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