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High-efficiency electrochemical thermal energy harvester using carbon nanotube aerogel sheet electrodes

Author

Listed:
  • Hyeongwook Im

    (School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University)

  • Taewoo Kim

    (School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University)

  • Hyelynn Song

    (School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University)

  • Jongho Choi

    (School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University)

  • Jae Sung Park

    (Institute of Advanced Machinery and Design, Seoul National University)

  • Raquel Ovalle-Robles

    (Nano-Science & Technology Center, Lintec of America, Inc.)

  • Hee Doo Yang

    (College of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Pusan National University)

  • Kenneth D. Kihm

    (Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee)

  • Ray H. Baughman

    (Alan G. MacDiarmid NanoTech Institute, University of Texas at Dallas)

  • Hong H. Lee

    (School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University)

  • Tae June Kang

    (INHA University)

  • Yong Hyup Kim

    (School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University
    Institute of Advanced Aerospace Technology, Seoul National University)

Abstract

Conversion of low-grade waste heat into electricity is an important energy harvesting strategy. However, abundant heat from these low-grade thermal streams cannot be harvested readily because of the absence of efficient, inexpensive devices that can convert the waste heat into electricity. Here we fabricate carbon nanotube aerogel-based thermo-electrochemical cells, which are potentially low-cost and relatively high-efficiency materials for this application. When normalized to the cell cross-sectional area, a maximum power output of 6.6 W m−2 is obtained for a 51 °C inter-electrode temperature difference, with a Carnot-relative efficiency of 3.95%. The importance of electrode purity, engineered porosity and catalytic surfaces in enhancing the thermocell performance is demonstrated.

Suggested Citation

  • Hyeongwook Im & Taewoo Kim & Hyelynn Song & Jongho Choi & Jae Sung Park & Raquel Ovalle-Robles & Hee Doo Yang & Kenneth D. Kihm & Ray H. Baughman & Hong H. Lee & Tae June Kang & Yong Hyup Kim, 2016. "High-efficiency electrochemical thermal energy harvester using carbon nanotube aerogel sheet electrodes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-9, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms10600
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10600
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    Cited by:

    1. Jung, Sang-Mun & Kwon, Jaesub & Lee, Jinhyeon & Lee, Byung-Jo & Kim, Kyu-Su & Yu, Dong-Seok & Kim, Yong-Tae, 2021. "Hybrid thermo-electrochemical energy harvesters for conversion of low-grade thermal energy into electricity via tungsten electrodes," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    2. 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.
    3. Shucheng Wang & Liuyang Han & Hanxiao Liu & Ying Dong & Xiaohao Wang, 2022. "Ionic Gelatin-Based Flexible Thermoelectric Generator with Scalability for Human Body Heat Harvesting," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-18, May.
    4. Isuru E. Gunathilaka & Jennifer M. Pringle & Luke A. O’Dell, 2021. "Operando magnetic resonance imaging for mapping of temperature and redox species in thermo-electrochemical cells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
    5. Denis Artyukhov & Nikolay Gorshkov & Maria Vikulova & Nikolay Kiselev & Artem Zemtsov & Ivan Artyukhov, 2022. "Power Supply of Wireless Sensors Based on Energy Conversion of Separated Gas Flows by Thermoelectrochemical Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-16, February.
    6. Igor Burmistrov & Rita Khanna & Nikolay Gorshkov & Nikolay Kiselev & Denis Artyukhov & Elena Boychenko & Andrey Yudin & Yuri Konyukhov & Maksim Kravchenko & Alexander Gorokhovsky & Denis Kuznetsov, 2022. "Advances in Thermo-Electrochemical (TEC) Cell Performances for Harvesting Low-Grade Heat Energy: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-17, August.
    7. Burmistrov, Igor & Gorshkov, Nikolay & Kovyneva, Natalya & Kolesnikov, Evgeny & Khaidarov, Bekzod & Karunakaran, Gopalu & Cho, Eun-Bum & Kiselev, Nikolay & Artyukhov, Denis & Kuznetsov, Denis & Gorokh, 2020. "High seebeck coefficient thermo-electrochemical cell using nickel hollow microspheres electrodes," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 1-8.
    8. Shi, Yu & Zhang, Liang & Li, Jun & Fu, Qian & Zhu, Xun & Liao, Qiang & Zhang, Yongsheng, 2020. "Cu/Ni composite electrodes for increased anodic coulombic efficiency and electrode operation time in a thermally regenerative ammonia-based battery for converting low-grade waste heat into electricity," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 162-171.

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