Charging-free electrochemical system for harvesting low-grade thermal energy

Yang, Yuan; Lee, Seok Woo; Ghasemi, Hadi; Loomis, James; Li, Xiaobo; Kraemer, Daniel; Zheng, Guangyuan; Cui, Yi; Chen, Gang

doi:10.1073/pnas.1415097111

Charging-free electrochemical system for harvesting low-grade thermal energy

Journal Article · Mon Nov 17 04:00:00 EST 2014 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1415097111· OSTI ID:1235150

Yang, Yuan ^[1]; Lee, Seok Woo ^[2]; Ghasemi, Hadi ^[1]; Loomis, James ^[1]; Li, Xiaobo ^[1]; Kraemer, Daniel ^[1]; Zheng, Guangyuan ^[3]; Cui, Yi ^[4]; Chen, Gang ^[1]

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139,
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305,
Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, and
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305,, Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025

Significance

Tremendous low-grade heat is stored in industrial processes and the environment. Efficient and low-cost utilization of the low-grade heat is critical to imminent energy and environmental challenges. Here, a rechargeable electrochemical cell (battery) is used to harvest such thermal energy because its voltage changes significantly with temperature. Moreover, by carefully tuning the composition of electrodes, the charging process is purely powered by thermal energy and no electricity is required to charge it. A high heat-to-electricity conversion efficiency of 2.0% can be reached when it is operated between 20 and 60 °C. Such charging-free characteristic may have potential application for harvesting low-grade heat from the environment, especially in remote areas.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

OSTI ID:: 1235150

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1210634
OSTI ID: 1385293

Journal Information:: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Journal Issue: 48 Vol. 111; ISSN 0027-8424

Publisher:: Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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