Wide-temperature range thermoregulating e-skin design through a hybrid structure of flexible thermoelectric devices and phase change materials heat sink

Abstract

The realization of the thermoregulating function of electronic skin (e-skin) by simulating the human temperature perception system can greatly improve the intelligence of the e-skin. Here, we report a thermoregulating e-skin that fits on the surface of a prosthetic limb based on a hybrid structure consisting of a flexible thermoelectric device and a phase-change heat sink. The hybrid e-skin possesses outstanding temperature adaptability similar to that of the human body; it can maintain the surface temperature at 35°C in environmental temperatures ranging from 10 to 45°C. The power expenditure of the e-skin is essentially the same as the energy required by the human body to regulate temperature and is only 14.22 mW cm−2 in the thermoneutral zone. Thermoregulation based on this e-skin can greatly improve the temperature distribution of the target surface, providing a promising solution for the biomimetic thermoregulation of robots and the next generation of intelligent prostheses. (Figure presented.).