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Direct thermal charging cell for converting low-grade heat to electricity

Author

Listed:
  • Xun Wang

    (The University of Hong Kong)

  • Yu-Ting Huang

    (The University of Hong Kong)

  • Chang Liu

    (The University of Hong Kong)

  • Kaiyu Mu

    (The University of Hong Kong)

  • Ka Ho Li

    (The University of Hong Kong)

  • Sijia Wang

    (The University of Hong Kong)

  • Yuan Yang

    (Columbia University)

  • Lei Wang

    (The University of Hong Kong)

  • Chia-Hung Su

    (Ming Chi University of Technology)

  • Shien-Ping Feng

    (The University of Hong Kong
    The University of Hong Kong-Zhejiang Institute of Research and Innovation (HKU-ZIRI))

Abstract

Efficient low-grade heat recovery can help to reduce greenhouse gas emission as over 70% of primary energy input is wasted as heat, but current technologies to fulfill the heat-to-electricity conversion are still far from optimum. Here we report a direct thermal charging cell, using asymmetric electrodes of a graphene oxide/platinum nanoparticles cathode and a polyaniline anode in Fe2+/Fe3+ redox electrolyte via isothermal heating operation. When heated, the cell generates voltage via a temperature-induced pseudocapacitive effect of graphene oxide and a thermogalvanic effect of Fe2+/Fe3+, and then discharges continuously by oxidizing polyaniline and reducing Fe3+ under isothermal heating till Fe3+ depletion. The cell can be self-regenerated when cooled down. Direct thermal charging cells attain a temperature coefficient of 5.0 mV K−1 and heat-to-electricity conversion efficiency of 2.8% at 70 °C (21.4% of Carnot efficiency) and 3.52% at 90 °C (19.7% of Carnot efficiency), outperforming other thermoelectrochemical and thermoelectric systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Xun Wang & Yu-Ting Huang & Chang Liu & Kaiyu Mu & Ka Ho Li & Sijia Wang & Yuan Yang & Lei Wang & Chia-Hung Su & Shien-Ping Feng, 2019. "Direct thermal charging cell for converting low-grade heat to electricity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-12144-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12144-2
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    Cited by:

    1. Lianhui Li & Sijia Feng & Yuanyuan Bai & Xianqing Yang & Mengyuan Liu & Mingming Hao & Shuqi Wang & Yue Wu & Fuqin Sun & Zheng Liu & Ting Zhang, 2022. "Enhancing hydrovoltaic power generation through heat conduction effects," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Zhiwei Li & Yinghong Xu & Langyuan Wu & Yufeng An & Yao Sun & Tingting Meng & Hui Dou & Yimin Xuan & Xiaogang Zhang, 2022. "Zinc ion thermal charging cell for low-grade heat conversion and energy storage," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Jaeho Yoon & Hanhwi Jang & Min-Wook Oh & Thomas Hilberath & Frank Hollmann & Yeon Sik Jung & Chan Beum Park, 2022. "Heat-fueled enzymatic cascade for selective oxyfunctionalization of hydrocarbons," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Yang, Rui & Meir, Avishai & Ramon, Guy Z., 2020. "Theoretical performance characteristics of a travelling-wave phase-change thermoacoustic engine for low-grade heat recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    5. Shi, Yu & Li, Yanxiang & Zhang, Liang & Li, Jun & Fu, Qian & Zhu, Xun & Liao, Qiang, 2022. "Development of a membrane-less microfluidic thermally regenerative ammonia-based battery towards small-scale low-grade thermal energy recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 326(C).
    6. Zhiwei Li & Yinghong Xu & Langyuan Wu & Jiaxin Cui & Hui Dou & Xiaogang Zhang, 2023. "Enabling giant thermopower by heterostructure engineering of hydrated vanadium pentoxide for zinc ion thermal charging cells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    7. Chen, Ruihua & Xu, Weicong & Deng, Shuai & Zhao, Ruikai & Choi, Siyoung Q. & Zhao, Li, 2023. "Towards the Carnot efficiency with a novel electrochemical heat engine based on the Carnot cycle: Thermodynamic considerations," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).

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