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<p>The increasing global electricity demand underscores the urgent need for clean energy solutions. Thermoelectric materials, capable of converting waste heat into electricity, present a promising avenue. However, their efficiency is often compromised by intermittent heat sources. To address this, we propose a radial thermo-actuated thermoelectric/phase-change system inspired by the energy-conserving mechanism of the sun starfish’s wrist foot. This design employs shape memory alloy to optimize heat source utilization. The device autonomously opens to sustain a temperature gradient during sufficient heat supply and closes to minimize heat dissipation when the source is inadequate. Notably, the closed-state delays the hot-end temperature drop by ~ 1700&#xa0;s, significantly reducing energy loss. Further integration with a photothermal-enhanced phase change material yields an all-day self-powered thermoelectric system. Daytime operation achieves a maximum temperature difference of 28.64&#xa0;°C and an output voltage of 14.89 mV, while nighttime performance maintains an average temperature difference of 6.21&#xa0;°C, ensuring stable heat supply. Our work introduces a scalable strategy for sustainable power generation in outdoor environments.</p>

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Bioinspired thermo-actuated thermoelectric/phase-change system for all-day power generation

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月9日

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  • Junda Liu,
  • Chunyu Du,
  • Zishan Li,
  • Chaochao Chai,
  • Qi Sun,
  • Bingchen Huo,
  • Guangming Chen

摘要

The increasing global electricity demand underscores the urgent need for clean energy solutions. Thermoelectric materials, capable of converting waste heat into electricity, present a promising avenue. However, their efficiency is often compromised by intermittent heat sources. To address this, we propose a radial thermo-actuated thermoelectric/phase-change system inspired by the energy-conserving mechanism of the sun starfish’s wrist foot. This design employs shape memory alloy to optimize heat source utilization. The device autonomously opens to sustain a temperature gradient during sufficient heat supply and closes to minimize heat dissipation when the source is inadequate. Notably, the closed-state delays the hot-end temperature drop by ~ 1700 s, significantly reducing energy loss. Further integration with a photothermal-enhanced phase change material yields an all-day self-powered thermoelectric system. Daytime operation achieves a maximum temperature difference of 28.64 °C and an output voltage of 14.89 mV, while nighttime performance maintains an average temperature difference of 6.21 °C, ensuring stable heat supply. Our work introduces a scalable strategy for sustainable power generation in outdoor environments.