Work

Poly(3,4‐Ethylene Dioxythiophene)/Poly(Styrene Sulfonate) Electrodes in Electrochemical Cells for Harvesting Waste Heat

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: Low‐grade waste heat is harvested using electrochemical cells. However, the high cost of commonly used platinum electrodes limits their application. Herein, poly(3,4‐ethylene dioxythiophene)/poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT/PSS) films are reported as attractive alternatives to platinum electrodes, as they show a lower charge transfer resistance. Using ferricyanide/ferrocyanide as the electrolyte, the PEDOT/PSS‐based thermoelectrochemical cell with dimensions of 5 cm × 5 cm × 2 cm delivers a maximum power output of 300 μW with 1 Ω loading at a temperature difference of ≈30 K, which is sufficient for driving an array of light‐emitting diodes and Bluetooth humidity/temperature sensors for wireless communication. Furthermore, PEDOT/PSS offers the advantage of compatibility with insoluble redox couples such as Prussian blue analog materials, which facilitates determining the temperature‐dependent redox potential of different materials. The appropriate combination of redox couples enables realizing thermally regenerative electrochemical cells. Power can be generated during an environmental temperature change; however, the temperature difference between different electrodes need not be maintained for these cells.

Source: Energy Technology

DOI: 10.1002/ente.201900998

Authors: Ying Wang, Masakazu Mukaida, Kazuhiro Kirihara, Lingyun Lyu, Qingshuo Wei

Institutions: Japan Science and Technology Agency, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Thermoelectric Materials and Devices

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology