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Engineering the Electrochemical Temperature Coefficient for Efficient Low‐Grade Heat Harvesting
Author(s) -
Gao Caitian,
Yin Yuling,
Zheng Lu,
Liu Yezhou,
Sim Soojin,
He Yongmin,
Zhu Chao,
Liu Zheng,
Lee HyunWook,
Yuan Qinghong,
Lee Seok Woo
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201803129
Subject(s) - materials science , prussian blue , electrochemistry , energy conversion efficiency , intercalation (chemistry) , phonon , electrode , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , condensed matter physics , chemistry , inorganic chemistry , physics
Low‐grade heat to electricity conversion has shown a large potential for sustainable energy supply. Recently, the low‐grade heat harvesting in the thermally regenerative electrochemical cycle (TREC) is a promising candidate with high energy conversion efficiency. In this system, the electrochemical temperature coefficient (α) plays a dominant role in efficient heat harvesting. However, the internal factors that affect α are still not clear and significant improvements are needed. Here, α of various Prussian Blue analogues (PBAs) is investigated and their lattice change during cation intercalation is monitored using the ex situ X‐ray diffraction (XRD) method. For the first time, it is found that α is highly related to the lattice parameter change. Large lattice shrinkage exhibits a large negative α, while lattice expansion is corresponding to a positive α. These are mainly attributed to the different phonon vibration entropy changes upon cation intercalation in various PBAs. Especially, purple cobalt hexacynoferrate delivers the largest α of −0.89 mV K −1 and enables highly efficient heat conversion efficiency up to 2.65% (21% of relative efficiency). The results of this study provide a fundamental understanding of temperature coefficient in electrochemical reactions and pave the way for designing high‐performance material for low‐grade heat harvesting.