Topology optimization design of deformable flexible thermoelectric devices for voltage enhancement

Flexible thermoelectric devices can generate electricity based on temperature differences and have great potential as an energy source for wearable devices and the Internet of Things. In this paper, an efficient topology optimization method is proposed for the design of deformable flexible thermoelectric devices, which facilitates an increase in the output voltage and a corresponding improvement in the power generation efficiency. The designed structures can produce out-of-plane displacement for an external load, which increases the temperature difference between the hot and cold ends, thus enhancing the power generation capacity. Using combined multi-field coupling analysis and experiments, the efficacy of the proposed method was evaluated for several scenarios based on different load cases and design domains. After optimization, the temperature difference of thermoelectric devices can be increased by more than 10 °C, and the output voltage can exhibit a three-fold increase compared to that of the in-plane configuration.