In:
Journal of Materials Chemistry A, Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), Vol. 11, No. 13 ( 2023), p. 6986-6996
Abstract:
Thermocells (TECs) can directly convert thermal energy into electricity via the thermogalvanic effect of redox ions. The employment of hydrogel electrolytes allows for the facile fabrication of flexible quasi-solid-state TECs with low health hazard, easy scalability and eco-friendliness. In contrast, conventional hydrogel electrolytes cannot adapt to a sufficiently wide working temperature range, as they inevitably freeze under sub-zero temperatures and dry out under elevated temperatures, resulting in loss in both mechanical flexibility and ion transport capability. Herein, a hydrogel electrolyte using low-concentration redox ions with excellent freeze-tolerance and self-humidifying capabilities is rationally designed by regulating the hydration effect, affording a flexible quasi-solid-state aqueous TEC system that can continually work under a wide temperature range (−15 °C to 70 °C). It also demonstrates long-term environmental stability without the need for encapsulation or packaging. The colligative properties of the hydrogel electrolyte can suppress ice crystallization, and in-depth molecular dynamics simulations reveal that a vital underlying mechanism is the strong coordination effect of Li + ions with water molecules over a wide range of temperatures. The TEC designed in this work shows high adaptability to temperature fluctuations and environmental changes, and offers a promising route to promote low-grade heat harvesting under extreme environmental conditions.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
2050-7488
,
2050-7496
Language:
English
Publisher:
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Publication Date:
2023
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2702232-8
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