Thermoelectricity Enhanced Electrocatalysis

We show that thermoelectric materials can function as electrocatalysts and use thermoelectric voltage generated to initiate and boost electrocatalytic reactions. The electrocatalytic activity is promoted by the use of nanostructured thermoelectric materials in a hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) by the thermoelectricity generated from induced temperature gradients. This phenomenon is demonstrated using two-dimensional layered thermoelectric materials Sb₂Te₃ and Bi_0.5Sb_1.5Te₃ where a current density approaching ∼50 mA/cm² is produced at zero potential for Bi_0.5Sb_1.5Te₃ in the presence of a temperature gradient of 90 °C. In addition, the turnover frequency reaches to 2.7 s^-1 at 100 mV under this condition which was zero in the absence of temperature gradient. This result adds a new dimension to the properties of thermoelectric materials which has not been explored before and can be applied in the field of electrocatalysis and energy generation.