Work

Multifunctional ionic thermoelectric elastomer enhanced by Le Chatlier principle in synergistic supramolecular hydrogen bonding system

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: When quasi-solid-state ionic thermoelectric (i-TE) devices transition from ideal laboratory testing platforms to real-world wearable applications, the main challenge shifts from electrochemical conversion efficiency to the adaptability of physical application scenarios. This study is based on a dynamic supramolecular hydrogen bonding system composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6), and choline chloride (ChCl), and the synergistic regulation of carrier (proton) ionization equilibrium according to Le Chatelier's principle. This system endows the i-TE gel elastomer with excellent stretchability, self-healing ability, recyclability, and a large ionic thermopower. Specifically, the PVA-IP6-ChCl ternary ionogel achieved a remarkable thermopower of 53.92 millivolts per kelvin and a high ionic conductivity of 10.64 millisiemens per centimeter at 80% relative humidity. Furthermore, this gel elastomer exhibited skin-like tensile stress (580 kilopascal) and Young's modulus (150 kilopascal), and its thermoelectric performance remained stable during repeated self-healing and stretching cycles. The development of this multifunctional thermoelectric gel elastomer provides an important demonstration for advancing i-TE technology from high efficiency to high applicability.

Source: Science Advances

DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aef5852