ThermoSkin: Self-Regulating Thermal Energy Harvesting in Wearable and Building Applications
Annotatsiya
Excessive energy usage and environmental impact are the result of the growing dependency on HVAC systems for thermal comfort in buildings and on the poor energy autonomy of wearables, and thus the dependence on centralised energy sources. Active climate control systems and traditional passive insulation are static controls that fail to adjust to temperature fluctuations dynamically. To this end, we introduce ThermoSkin, a biomimetic self-regulated thermal energy harvesting system that enhances wearables and buildings by combining a phase-changing ionic hydrogel (PCIH) with a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). Coupled with PCIHs, a thermal fluctuation reduction solution based on heat storage and release, at least part of which is based on environmental conditions. At the same time, embedded TENGs convert human motion or structural vibrations into electrical power, which can be used to power an IoT-based climate control without any external power source, constituting the first step toward self-powered operation of IoT-based climate control. Using thermoSkin coatings in buildings increases energy efficiency by minimising reliance on HVAC systems, and utilising thermoSkin in wearables enables improvements in thermal comfort and energy autonomy in smart textiles. The experimental evaluations demonstrate a $30-50 \%$ reduction in heating and cooling demands in buildings, as well as continuous low-power energy harvesting in wearables, making it a sustainable and effective solution. Legal aspects of IP, safety rules, and data privacy are also covered to ensure compliance and readiness for the world market. In contrast, ThermoSkin is a scalable, energyefficient, and legally viable innovation for future smart wearables and energy-efficient architecture.