Abstract
We developed a stretchable thermoelectric generator using folding deformation, like an origami. The stretchable thermoelectric generator consisted of flat and folded section. Rigid thermoelectric elements were arranged on flat sections and folded sections produced stretchability. First, an electronic substrate made from polyimide copper film was folded, and conventional rigid Bi2Te3 thermoelectric elements were arranged on the folded substrate. The stretchable thermoelectric generator was denoted stretching deformation by 20%. Then, we evaluated output voltage of the generator using heater. In both folded and deployed states, as the input temperature increased, the output voltage of the device also tended to rise. The output voltage of the folded state showed smaller voltage than that of the deployed state device. The reduction can be improved by making folding deformation uniformly.
