High-performance graphene-based flexible heater for wearable applications

Abstract

In this paper, a high-performance large-scale flexible heater based on graphene and silver particles is described. The graphene-based heater can be integrated into various systems without having to be too selective about the substrate used. When silver particles are mixed with graphene, the sheet resistance is greatly reduced to 158.7 Ω sq⁻¹. A time-dependent temperature profile under an applied voltage of 18 V exhibits a steady-state temperature of up to 220 °C within 5 s. The high steady-state temperature and ultrafast response time are superior to those of most of the existing heaters. The infrared pictures show a uniform temperature distribution whether the graphene-based heater is flat or curved. Therefore, with the advantages of a low driving voltage, high steady-state temperature, ultrafast response and excellent flexibility, the graphene-based heater is expected to be a promising potential candidate for various wearable heating applications.