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Zinc ion thermal charging cell for low-grade heat conversion and energy storage

Author

Listed:
  • Zhiwei Li

    (Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics)

  • Yinghong Xu

    (Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics)

  • Langyuan Wu

    (Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics)

  • Yufeng An

    (Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics)

  • Yao Sun

    (Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics)

  • Tingting Meng

    (Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics)

  • Hui Dou

    (Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics)

  • Yimin Xuan

    (Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics)

  • Xiaogang Zhang

    (Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics)

Abstract

Converting low-grade heat from environment into electricity shows great sustainability for mitigating the energy crisis and adjusting energy configurations. However, thermally rechargeable devices typically suffer from poor conversion efficiency when a semiconductor is employed. Breaking the convention of thermoelectric systems, we propose and demonstrate a new zinc ion thermal charging cell to generate electricity from low-grade heat via the thermo-extraction/insertion and thermodiffusion processes of insertion-type cathode (VO2-PC) and stripping/plating behaviour of Zn anode. Based on this strategy, an impressively high thermopower of ~12.5 mV K−1 and an excellent output power of 1.2 mW can be obtained. In addition, a high heat-to-current conversion efficiency of 0.95% (7.25% of Carnot efficiency) is achieved with a temperature difference of 45 K. This work, which demonstrates extraordinary energy conversion efficiency and adequate energy storage, will pave the way towards the construction of thermoelectric setups with attractive properties for high value-added utilization of low-grade heat.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-27755-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27755-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. 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.
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    Cited by:

    1. An, Yichao & Zhang, Yongsheng & Shi, Yu & Zhang, Liang & Li, Jun & Fu, Qian & Zhu, Xun & Liao, Qiang, 2023. "Alleviated ammonia crossover in thermally regenerative ammonia-based batteries by optimizing the introduced intermediate-chamber," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 349(C).

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