Textile-Integrated Thermoelectric Materials for Harvesting and Utilization of Low-Grade Heat

The rapid growth of wearable and smart textile technologies has intensified the demand for energy-autonomous systems capable of harvesting and utilizing low-grade heat, particularly from the human body and ambient environments. Conventional thermoelectric materials, though well-studied for waste heat recovery in industrial and automotive applications, face major challenges in textile integration due to their brittleness, toxicity, and poor mechanical compliance. Parallel efforts in flexible electronics have demonstrated proof-of-concept energy-harvesting textiles, but their power output remains insufficient for practical applications owing to limitations in both material efficiency and device architecture.

This project aims to address this gap by developing textile-integrated thermoelectric systems designed specifically for low-temperature (&lt

100 °C) heat harvesting and active thermal management. The proposed research will combine materials development and textile engineering approaches to create hybrid thermoelectric fabrics capable of both energy generation and temperature regulation. On the materials front, the focus will be on developing non-toxic, environmentally stable thermoelectric materials—with enhanced flexibility and mechanical resilience. Controlled doping, nanostructuring, and polymer–inorganic composites will be explored to optimize the power factor and reduce thermal conductivity while maintaining processability suitable for textile incorporation.

In parallel, the project will pursue the integration of these materials into textile substrates through scalable methods such as coating, printing, and fiber spinning. The objective is to achieve uniform distribution of thermoelectric elements within the fabric architecture without compromising breathability or comfort. The performance of the resulting thermoelectric textiles will be evaluated in terms of electrical output, mechanical durability, and heat-to-electricity conversion efficiency under simulated and real-use conditions. Optimization of fabric structure, weave density, and contact engineering will further enhance the energy conversion efficiency and stability of the system.

The ultimate goal is to develop a design framework for next-generation “functional thermoelectric textiles” capable of powering small wearable electronics or providing localized heating and cooling in garments. The outcomes of this work are expected to contribute to sustainable energy utilization and the development of advanced materials for wearable and adaptive textile systems. This collaborative project between IIT Madras and Deakin University will leverage complementary expertise in thermoelectric materials design, processing, and textile technology to deliver a transformative platform for low-grade heat utilization.