Thermoelectric Lego blocks for self-healing and flexible devices
발표자
김건국 (포항공과대학교)
연구책임자
손재성 (포항공과대학교)
공동저자
김건국 (포항공과대학교), 손재성 (포항공과대학교)
초록
내용
Thermoelectric devices are promising for waste-heat recovery, yet conventional modules based on rigidly soldered inorganic legs are brittle and difficult to repair or reconfigure after fabrication. Although flexible or stretchable polymer components have been introduced to improve mechanical compliance, such integrated structures remain non-adaptive and hard to restore once damaged. Here, we propose a modular thermoelectric Lego block concept that enables on-demand repair and reconfiguration. Each block functions as an independent unit integrating a PDMS-based self-healing silver-flake composite electrode with 3D-printed BiSbTe and BiTeSe thermoelectric legs. The assembled devices maintain stable performance under bending, stretching, and even after cutting and reassembly, with no observable power degradation after repeated reconfiguration. This Lego-like approach provides a versatile thermoelectric platform combining flexibility, reparability, and reconfigurability.