<p>Thermocells are garnering increasing attention as a promising thermoelectric technology for harvesting low-grade heat. However, their performance is often limited by the scarcity of high-performance redox couples that possess both high thermopower and rapid redox kinetics. This work addresses this challenge by leveraging our recently developed copper (I/II) (Cu<sup>+</sup>/Cu<sup>2+</sup>) redox couple. We significantly enhance the performance of Cu-based liquid thermocells by integrating a thermosensitive crystallization process with etched carbon cloth electrodes, achieving synergistic improvements in thermodynamic and kinetic performance. The thermosensitive crystallization process establishes a persistent Cu<sup>2+</sup> concentration gradient, boosting the thermopower from 1.47 to 2.93&#xa0;mV&#xa0;K<sup>−1</sup>. Moreover, the etched carbon cloth electrodes provide a larger electroactive surface area and demonstrate a higher current density. Consequently, the optimized Cu<sup>+</sup>/Cu<sup>2+</sup> system achieved an exceptional normalized power density <i>P</i><sub>max</sub> (<i>ΔT</i>)<sup>−2</sup> of 3.97&#xa0;mW&#xa0;m<sup>‒2</sup>&#xa0;K<sup>−2</sup>. A thermocell module comprised of 20 cells directly power various electronic devices at a temperature difference of 40&#xa0;K. This work successfully exhibits potential of Cu<sup>+</sup>/Cu<sup>2+</sup> redox couple in thermoelectric conversion and introduces a valuable redox couple for high-performance thermocells.</p>

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High-Performance Cu-Based Liquid Thermocells Enabled by Thermosensitive Crystallization and Etched Carbon Cloth Electrode

  • Wei Fang,
  • Zeping Ou,
  • Yifan Wang,
  • Zhe Li,
  • Qian Huang,
  • Pengchi Zhang,
  • Xinzhe Li,
  • Yujie Zheng,
  • Lijun Hu,
  • Chen Li,
  • Jianyong Ouyang,
  • Kuan Sun

摘要

Thermocells are garnering increasing attention as a promising thermoelectric technology for harvesting low-grade heat. However, their performance is often limited by the scarcity of high-performance redox couples that possess both high thermopower and rapid redox kinetics. This work addresses this challenge by leveraging our recently developed copper (I/II) (Cu+/Cu2+) redox couple. We significantly enhance the performance of Cu-based liquid thermocells by integrating a thermosensitive crystallization process with etched carbon cloth electrodes, achieving synergistic improvements in thermodynamic and kinetic performance. The thermosensitive crystallization process establishes a persistent Cu2+ concentration gradient, boosting the thermopower from 1.47 to 2.93 mV K−1. Moreover, the etched carbon cloth electrodes provide a larger electroactive surface area and demonstrate a higher current density. Consequently, the optimized Cu+/Cu2+ system achieved an exceptional normalized power density Pmax (ΔT)−2 of 3.97 mW m‒2 K−2. A thermocell module comprised of 20 cells directly power various electronic devices at a temperature difference of 40 K. This work successfully exhibits potential of Cu+/Cu2+ redox couple in thermoelectric conversion and introduces a valuable redox couple for high-performance thermocells.