KiriTEG - Innovative manufacturing approach to making flexible thermal energy harvesting devices

KiriTEG是一种为自供电无线传感器和系统生产使能材料和工艺技术的新方法。ETL和QMUL合作，已经提交了制造工艺的专利。我们现在正处于开发这一过程的独特时刻，建立并利用我们在以前工作中开发的热电材料知识的知识产权。该项目将进行有机和无机热电材料的工业研究，以实现柔性设备，并开发制造工艺，使3D产品能够从2D形状形成，但重点是近期开发用于热能收集的温度梯度。在适用的情况下，我们将利用某些大面积电子技术，以缩短产品开发商业化的路线。该制造过程将为使用不同的热、振动和运动方法的其他收获设备提供新的路线。这种材料和工艺将提高机械耐用性和稳健性，并凭借其灵活性进入可穿戴产品领域。我们将专门针对低成本路线，使船舶，汽车，特别是电动和自动驾驶汽车，工业和消费产品无处不在，支持物联网（IoT）。未来的物联网产品，尤其是在偏远地区，如果它们是“即用即忘”的，就会越来越有吸引力。通过该项目，我们将创造灵活耐用的热电材料，开发制造工艺，并在原型热能量采集器上进行演示，为下一代能量收集设备制造建立平台。

KiriTEG is a novel approach to producing enabling materials and process technology for self powered wireless sensors and systems. ETL and QMUL in collaboration, have submitted a patent on the manufacturing process. We are now at a unique point to develop this process, build on, and exploit our IP on thermoelectric materials knowledge developed in previous work. The project will undertake industrial research of both organic and inorganic thermoelectric materials to enable flexible devices, and the development of the manufacturing process to allow 3D products to be formed from 2D shapes but focused on nearer term exploitation of temperature gradients for thermal energy harvesting. We will leverage certain large area electronics techniques where applicable, to allow shorter routes to commercialise product development. The manufacturing process will enable new routes for other harvesting devices using different methods for heat, vibration, and motion. The materials and process will both enable improvements in mechanical durability and robustness, and with their flexibility allow uptake into the wearable products sector. We will specifically target a low cost route to allow ubiquitous uptake for both marine, automotive -- specifically electric and autonomous vehicles, industrial and consumer products, supporting the Internet of Things (IoT).Future IoT products especially in remote locations have increasing attraction if they are "fit and forget". Through this project, we will create flexible, and durable thermoelectric materials, develop the manufacturing process, and demonstrate in a prototype thermal energy harvester, establishing a platform for next generation energy harvesting device manufacturing.