ĚÇĐÄÍřŇł°ć

Home

Flexible Thermoelectric Module Generate Electricity from Heat, or Enable Cooling and Heating

31 October 2024

Thor Balkhed

Imagine a flexible module capable of converting waste heat into electricity, whether the surface it's attached to is flat or curved. This module can also generate heating or cooling from electricity. Fully functional prototypes are now available at ĚÇĐÄÍřŇł°ć.

Bendable cheap thermoelectric module Photographer: Thor Balkhed

After three years of work at the Printed Electronics Arena at Campus Norrköping, researchers from Linköping University and RISE, in collaboration with the Danish company ParsNord, have completed prototypes for flexible thermoelectric modules.

A thermoelectric module (TEM) is an electronic device that can convert heat into electricity or use electricity to create heating or cooling. It harnesses temperature differences: when one side of the module is hot and the other is cold, electricity is generated. Alternatively, when electricity is applied, one side becomes cooler while the other gets warmer.

Thermoelectric modules currently available on the market are used in products such as portable coolers, car seat heaters, and energy-harvesting devices. However, traditional TEMs are rigid, limiting their range of applications.

Photographer: Thor Balkhed

The main outcome of this project is the production of a relatively affordable module that functions even on non-flat surfaces.

The invention open up new applications such as wearable coolers for medical purposes and electric generators that can power sensor nodes in smart buildings and industrial environments.

According to the developers, this breakthrough is expected to have significant scientific and technological impact. The long-term vision is to establish Europe’s first manufacturer of flexible thermoelectric modules, headquartered in Norrköping at the House of Printed and Organic Electronics (HOPE).

Seyedmohammad Mortazavinatanzi, Postdoc at LiU and CEO at ParsNord Thermoelectric Filial has led the project, which is funded by . (Swedish).

Photo of Reverant Crispin

Reverant Crispin

Professor, Head of Unit
Photo of Seyedmohammad Mortazavinatanzi

Seyedmohammad Mortazavinatanzi

Postdoc
Researchers in a lab

Open Positions at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics

Learn more about open PhD, Postdoc, Masters, Scholarship, and other positions at LOE.
XPS-maskin

Surface Physics and Chemistry

The overall goal of our unit is to do basic science on topics that can have a positive impact on society. We do general surface physics and chemistry research related to e.g. energy materials, devices and catalytic processes.
A couple of men standing next to each other in front of a blackboard.

Scientists mimic heart muscle cells with conductive plastic

For the first time, scientists have succeeded in artificially mimicking the ion signalling of heart muscle cells. To succeed, researchers at LiU have used organic electronics. The findings open up for new types of implants and sensors.
A couple of people sitting at a desk in front of a computer.

How childhood liver tumor cells acquire different features

Researchers have discovered how the so called Wnt signaling pathway can result in tumor cells with different features within a single tumor. Their findings contribute to better classification of these tumors.
En närbild av en man som bär glasögon.

David Engblom wins award for his research on how our brains make us feel ill

David Engblom, Professor of Neurobiology, is awarded the 2026 Onkel Adam Prize for outstanding research at the Faculty of Medicine. He researches the role of the brain in making us feel ill in various medical conditions.
Woman at office.

Biogenic carbon dioxide could become a key resource as biogas expands

During the production and upgrading of biogas, carbon dioxide is released, a greenhouse gas that affects the climate. However, research at ĚÇĐÄÍřŇł°ć shows that this carbon dioxide has several uses and could become an important resource.