Photo-thermo-electric hydrogel with interlocking photothermal layer and hydrogel for enhancement of thermopower generation

Abstract

Photothermal devices and thermoelectric cells hold great promise for energy generation but integration of the two remains a considerable challenge in real-life power supply for sensors. Here, a novel photo-thermo-electric hydrogel (PTEH-Interlocking) was constructed by the synthesis of a photothermal layer on a thermoelectric hydrogel with the redox pair Fe(CN)₆³⁻/Fe(CN)₆⁴⁻. The smart design of using the oxidation of pyrogallic acid by Fe(CN)₆³⁻ to construct the photothermal layer for photo-to-heat conversion protected the redox couple of the thermogalvanic ion pair from ultraviolet damage, as well as triggered the formation of an interlocking structure at the interface of the photothermal layer and the thermoelectric hydrogel. The as-prepared PTEH-Interlocking has shown a high Seebeck coefficient and rapid heat transfer, boosting the photo-thermo-electric conversion. As a demonstration of a practical application, the PTEH-Interlocking cells are successfully used as the energy supply for a mechanical sensor.

Keywords

heat conduction / interlocking structure / photo-thermo-electric energy conversion / solar energy / thermoelectrochemical cells

References

[1] Fresno F, Iglesias-Juez A, Coronado JM. Photothermal catalytic CO₂ conversion: beyond catalysis and photocatalysis. Top Curr Chem (Cham). 2023;381(4):21.

[2] Huang CH, Huang JX, Chiao YH, et al. Tailoring of a piezo-photo-thermal solar evaporator for simultaneous steam and power generation. Adv Funct Mater. 2021;31(17):11.

[3] Li YM, Shi YY, Wang HW, et al. Recent advances in carbon-based materials for solar-driven interfacial photothermal conversion water evaporation: assemblies, structures, applications, and prospective. Carbon Energy. 2023;5(11):42.

[4] Liu HW, Chen BC, Chen YL, et al. Bioinspired self-standing, self-floating 3d solar evaporators breaking the trade-off between salt cycle and heat localization for continuous seawater desalination. Adv Mater. 2023;35(24):14.

[5] Xiao P, He J, Ni F, et al. Exploring interface confined water flow and evaporation enables solar-thermal-electro integration towards clean water and electricity harvest via asymmetric functionalization strategy. Nano Energy. 2020;68:6810.

[6] Zhou Y, Ding TP, Gao MM, et al. Controlled heterogeneous water distribution and evaporation towards enhanced photothermal water-electricity-hydrogen production. Nano Energy. 2020;77:777.

[7] Geng XM, Zhang DD, Zheng ZM, et al. Integrated multifunctional device based on bi2s3/pd: localized heat channeling for efficient photothermic vaporization and real-time health monitoring. Nano Energy. 2021;82:8213.

[8] Sun XD, Jiang SY, Huang HW, et al. Solar energy catalysis. Angew Chem Int Ed. 2022;61(29):18.

[9] Sun S, Li M, Shi XL, Chen ZG. Advances in ionic thermoelectrics: from materials to devices. Adv Energy Mater. 2023;13(9):45.

[10] Wang G, Tang ZD, Gao Y, et al. Phase change thermal storage materials for interdisciplinary applications. Chem Rev. 2023;123(11):72-7024.

[11] Zhao YF, Gao W, Li SW, et al. Solar-versus thermal-driven catalysis for energy conversion. Joule. 2019;3(4):920-937.

[12] Wang XH, Xu L, Ge SB, et al. Biomass-based carbon quantum dots for polycrystalline silicon solar cells with enhanced photovoltaic performance. Energy. 2023;274:27411.

[13] Dupont MF, MacFarlane DR, Pringle JM. Thermo-electrochemical cells for waste heat harvesting – progress and perspectives. Chem Commun. 2017;53(47):6288-6302.

[14] Huang L, Lin SZ, Xu ZS, et al. Fiber-based energy conversion devices for human-body energy harvesting. Adv Mater. 2020;32(5):20.

[15] Liu C, Li QK, Wang SJ, et al. Ion regulation in double-network hydrogel module with ultrahigh thermopower for low-grade heat harvesting. Nano Energy. 2022;92:929.

[16] Pu SR, Liao YT, Chen KL, et al. Thermogalvanic hydrogel for synchronous evaporative cooling and low-grade heat energy harvesting. Nano Lett. 2020;20(5):3791-3797.

[17] Shen JJ, Ma YL, Yang CH, et al. Boosting solar-thermal-electric conversion of thermoelectrochemical cells by construction of a carboxymethylcellulose-interpenetrated polyacrylamide network. J Mater Chem A. 2022;10(14):7785-7791.

[18] Taheri A, MacFarlane DR, Pozo-Gonzalo C, Pringle JM. Quasi-solid-state electrolytes for low-grade thermal energy harvesting using a cobalt redox couple. ChemSusChem. 2018;11(16):2788-2796.

[19] Cao TY, Shi XL, Chen ZG. Advances in the design and assembly of flexible thermoelectric device. Prog Mater Sci. 2023;131(1):13158.

[20] Chen JH, Zhang L, Tu YY, et al. Wearable self-powered human motion sensors based on highly stretchable quasi-solid state hydrogel. Nano Energy. 2021;88:888.

[21] Wang Y, Yang L, Shi XL, et al. Flexible thermoelectric materials and generators: challenges and innovations. Adv Mater. 2019;31(29):47.

[22] Zhang L, Shi XL, Yang YL, Chen ZG. Flexible thermoelectric materials and devices: from materials to applications. Mater Today. 2021;46(1):62-108.

[23] Tan M, Liu WD, Shi XL, Sun Q, Chen ZG. Minimization of the electrical contact resistance in thin-film thermoelectric device. Appl Phys Rev. 2023;10(2):9.

[24] Tian CH, Bai CH, Wang T, et al. Thermogalvanic hydrogel electrolyte for harvesting biothermal energy enabled by a novel redox couple of so4/3 2-ions. Nano Energy. 2023;106:1068.

[25] Zhang YW, Dai Y, Xia F, et al. Gelatin/polyacrylamide ionic conductive hydrogel with skin temperature-triggered adhesion for human motion sensing and body heat harvesting. Nano Energy. 2022;104:10411.

[26] Bai CH, Li XBA, Cui XJ, et al. Transparent stretchable thermogalvanic pva/gelation hydrogel electrolyte for harnessing solar energy enabled by a binary solvent strategy. Nano Energy. 2022;100:1008.

[27] Yang PH, Liu K, Chen Q, et al. Wearable thermocells based on gel electrolytes for the utilization of body heat. Angew Chem Int Ed. 2016;55(39):12050-12053.

[28] Liu KK, Lv JC, Fan GD, et al. Flexible and robust bacterial cellulose-based ionogels with high thermoelectric properties for low-grade heat harvesting. Adv Funct Mater. 2022;32(6):12.

[29] Li S, Zhang Q. Ionic gelatin thermoelectric generators. Joule. 2020;4(8):1628-1629.

[30] Zhang D, Mao Y, Ye F, et al. Stretchable thermogalvanic hydrogel thermocell with record-high specific output power density enabled by ion-induced crystallization. Energ Environ Sci. 2022;15(7):2974-2982.

[31] Akbar ZA, Jeon JW, Jang SY. Intrinsically self-healable, stretchable thermoelectric materials with a large ionic seebeck effect. Energ Environ Sci. 2020;13(9):2915-2923.

[32] Cho C, Kim B, Park S, Kim E. Bisulfate transport in hydrogels for self-healable and transparent thermoelectric harvesting films. Energ Environ Sci. 2022;15(5):2049-2060.

[33] Guo YH, Bae J, Fang ZW, et al. Hydrogels and hydrogel-derived materials for energy and water sustainability. Chem Rev. 2020;120(15):7642-7707.

[34] Xu C, Sun Y, Zhang JJ, et al. Adaptable and wearable thermocell based on stretchable hydrogel for body heat harvesting. Adv Energy Mater. 2022;12(42):9.

[35] Abraham TJ, MacFarlane DR, Pringle JM. High seebeck coefficient redox ionic liquid electrolytes for thermal energy harvesting. Energ Environ Sci. 2013;6(9):2639-2645.

[36] Taheri A, MacFarlane DR, Pozo-Gonzalo CP, et al. Flexible and non-volatile redox active quasi-solid state ionic liquid based electrolytes for thermal energy harvesting. Sustain Energy Fuels. 2018;2(8):1806-1812.

[37] Wu J, Black JJ, Aldous L. Thermoelectrochemistry using conventional and novel gelled electrolytes in heat-to-current thermocells. Electrochim Acta. 2017;225(1):482-492.

[38] Wang Y, Park JP, Hong SH, Lee H. Biologically inspired materials exhibiting repeatable regeneration with self-sealing capabilities without external stimuli or catalysts. Adv Mater. 2016;28(45):9961-9968.

[39] Zhang YL, Xu RN, Zhao WY, et al. Successive redox-reaction-triggered interface radical polymerization for growing hydrogel coatings on diverse substrates. Angew Chem Int Ed. 2022;61(39):7.

[40] Yang LW, Han LL, Ren J, et al. Coating process and stability of metal-polyphenol film. Colloid Surf A-Physicochem Eng Asp. 2015;484:197-205.

[41] Ge SB, Shi Y, Chen XM, et al. Sustainable upcycling of plastic waste and wood fibers into high-performance laminated wood-polymer composite via one-step cell collapse and chemical bonding approach. Adv Compos Hybrid Mater. 2023;6(4):12.

[42] Graham HD. Stabilization of the prussian blue color in the determination of polyphenols. J Agric Food Chem. 1992;40(5):801-805.

[43] Gulcin I, Topal F, Sarikaya SBO, et al. Polyphenol contents and antioxidant properties of medlar (Mespilus germanica L.). Rec Nat Prod. 2011;5(3):158-175.

[44] Ye HR, Shi Y, Xu BB, et al. Sustainable ultra-strong thermally conductive wood-based antibacterial structural materials with anti-corrosion and ultraviolet shielding. EcoMat. 2023;15(11).

[45] Duan JJ, Feng G, Yu BY, et al. Aqueous thermogalvanic cells with a high seebeck coefficient for low-grade heat harvest. Nat Commun. 2018;9(1):98.

[46] Lei ZY, Gao W, Wu PY. Double-network thermocells with extraordinary toughness and boosted power density for continuous heat harvesting. Joule. 2021;5(8):2211-2222.

[47] Wang Z, Wu Z, Weng L, et al. A roadmap review of thermally conductive polymer composites: critical factors, progress, and prospects. Adv Funct Mater. 2023;33(36):2301549.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2023 2023 The Authors. EcoMat published by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.