KEY BENEFITS
A flexible fiber
Toxic and rigid materials like bismuth telluride have historically dominated the thermoelectric materials market. These limitations have constrained the practical applications of thermoelectric materials. With Galvorn, customers are realizing broad applications for thermoelectric textile generators.
- Electrical Conductivity, MS/m: 10
- Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K: 450
- Specific Conductivity (Sm2/kg): 6150
A non-toxic carbon
Galvorn is a carbon nanomaterial. Our process produces fibers and films of aligned carbon nanotubes. We also construct them into yarns and fabrics to suit different applications. Whether you're using the fiber, yarn, fabric, or films, it's all a form of carbon - a basic building block of life.
Lightweight strength
Galvorn can further broaden thermoelectric applications to those where combined strength and light weight are critical. These other properties play a role in the overall comfort and durability of the garment or device. Particularly, in smart textile applications, the thermoelectric capabilities need to hold up to repeated washing.
- Strength, GPa: 3
- Density, g/cm3: 1.6
- Young's Modulous, GPa: 200
- Tenacity (N/tex): 2
Carbon nanotube fibers have demonstrated 3x higher power factor versus incumbents
Image Source: Komatsu, et. al. study
CNT fibers achieved a power factor (PF) value of 14 ± 5 mW m K, the highest value ever achieved for any CNT system. The results are also over three times larger than that of the incumbent bismuth telluride (Bi Te ).
CNT fibers are especially strong candidates for thermoelectric active cooling. These types of applications require materials with a large thermoelectric power factor, as well as a high thermal conductivity.
In this study, the authors note: “In addition to the basic TE properties, practical applications require other considerations, such as toxicity, flexibility, and scalability. Conventional inorganic TE materials such as Bi2Te3 and their alloys have shown high performance... However, their toxicity, scarcity, and rigidity prevent their wide use.”
Using weavable fibers of carbon nanotubes in thermoelectric generators (TEG)
Image Source: Komatsu, et. al. study
Carbon nanotube fibers and yarns offer a weavable and scalable solution for developing a textile TE generator. Researchers have used CNT fibers to create a TE generator that could power a light-emitting diode (LED).
Practical applications for flexible, non-toxic thermoelectric materials
Industries like automotive, aerospace, IoT, and apparel can benefit from converting waste heat into useful electricity. Applications where thermoelectric device performance must be durable and comfortable include:
- Self-powering garments for use in remote areas where access to power is limited
- Comfortable, lightweight wearables that hold up to sweat, washing, and more
- Industrial energy harvesting or TE generators that can flexibly convert waste heat into electricity to increase overall energy efficiency