Chinese researchers create material that turns body heat into power for wearables

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) — Chinese researchers have created a high‑efficiency thermoelectric film that generates electricity from body heat, offering a sustainable power source for smart wearables such as digital watches, state media reported Wednesday.

The material, developed by scientists at the Institute of Electrical Engineering under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, uses silver selenide (Ag₂Se) nanowires combined with graphene and applied on a porous nylon base. The team used a chemical solution method followed by filtration and rapid hot‑pressing to achieve flexibility and record‑level power output.

The new structure outperforms existing flexible thermoelectric materials, which have long struggled with low efficiency and limited design adaptability.

A prototype arch‑shaped device using the film captured temperature differences between the body and surrounding air, generating enough electricity to power small electronics like digital watches and hygrometers, according to state‑run Xinhua News.

“This study successfully demonstrates the practical application of thermoelectric conversion in flexible devices,” said researcher Ding Fazhu, adding that the device could help reduce reliance on batteries in wearable tech.

The breakthrough comes amid growing demand for battery‑free, energy‑harvesting solutions as wearable electronics become increasingly widespread.