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Chaotropic Effect‐Boosted Thermogalvanic Ionogel Thermocells for All‐Weather Power Generation

Mingchen Yang, Yin Hu, Xiaoliang Wang, Hua Chen, Jiangtao Yu, Weizheng Li, Runyin Li, Feng Yan

2024Advanced Materials61 citationsDOI

Abstract

Abstract Ionic thermocells convert heat into electricity and are promising power sources for electronic devices. However, discontinuous and small electricity output limits practical use under varying environmental conditions. Here, a thermogalvanic ionogel with a high Seebeck coefficient (32.4 mV K −1 ) is designed. Thermocells that combine thermogalvanic ionogel‐based thermocells, which realize all‐weather power generation via passive radiative cooling, are also developed. These thermocells generate electricity continuously under varying weather conditions and over a wide temperature range (−40 to 90 °C), with a normalized power density of 25.84 mW m −2 K −2 . Advanced characterization shows that the chaotropic effect enhances the Seebeck coefficient, while the self‐supplying temperature difference given the radiative cooling structure enables all‐weather power generation. These results provide an effective strategy for developing practical thermocells suitable for diverse daily and seasonal variations.

Topics & Concepts

Electricity generationPower densityMaterials scienceElectricityChaotropic agentPower (physics)Seebeck coefficientRange (aeronautics)Engineering physicsCharacterization (materials science)Environmental scienceMeteorologyNanotechnologyThermodynamicsElectrical engineeringThermal conductivityPhysicsComposite materialEngineeringOrganic chemistryChemistryThermal Radiation and Cooling TechnologiesBuilding Energy and Comfort OptimizationSolar-Powered Water Purification Methods