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Polymer gels with tunable ionic Seebeck coefficient for ultra-sensitive printed thermopiles

Author

Listed:
  • Dan Zhao

    (Linköping University)

  • Anna Martinelli

    (Chalmers University of Technology)

  • Andreas Willfahrt

    (Linköping University
    Stuttgart Media University)

  • Thomas Fischer

    (Stuttgart Media University)

  • Diana Bernin

    (Chalmers University of Technology)

  • Zia Ullah Khan

    (Linköping University)

  • Maryam Shahi

    (University of Kentucky)

  • Joseph Brill

    (University of Kentucky)

  • Magnus P. Jonsson

    (Linköping University)

  • Simone Fabiano

    (Linköping University)

  • Xavier Crispin

    (Linköping University)

Abstract

Measuring temperature and heat flux is important for regulating any physical, chemical, and biological processes. Traditional thermopiles can provide accurate and stable temperature reading but they are based on brittle inorganic materials with low Seebeck coefficient, and are difficult to manufacture over large areas. Recently, polymer electrolytes have been proposed for thermoelectric applications because of their giant ionic Seebeck coefficient, high flexibility and ease of manufacturing. However, the materials reported to date have positive Seebeck coefficients, hampering the design of ultra-sensitive ionic thermopiles. Here we report an “ambipolar” ionic polymer gel with giant negative ionic Seebeck coefficient. The latter can be tuned from negative to positive by adjusting the gel composition. We show that the ion-polymer matrix interaction is crucial to control the sign and magnitude of the ionic Seebeck coefficient. The ambipolar gel can be easily screen printed, enabling large-area device manufacturing at low cost.

Suggested Citation

  • Dan Zhao & Anna Martinelli & Andreas Willfahrt & Thomas Fischer & Diana Bernin & Zia Ullah Khan & Maryam Shahi & Joseph Brill & Magnus P. Jonsson & Simone Fabiano & Xavier Crispin, 2019. "Polymer gels with tunable ionic Seebeck coefficient for ultra-sensitive printed thermopiles," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-08930-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-08930-7
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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. Fan, Zeng & Zhang, Yaoyun & Pan, Lujun & Ouyang, Jianyong & Zhang, Qian, 2021. "Recent developments in flexible thermoelectrics: From materials to devices," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    3. Dong-Hu Kim & Zico Alaia Akbar & Yoga Trianzar Malik & Ju-Won Jeon & Sung-Yeon Jang, 2023. "Self-healable polymer complex with a giant ionic thermoelectric effect," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.

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