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Electrocyclic reactions are reversible reactions. They involve an intramolecular cyclization or ring-opening of a conjugated polyene. Shown below are two examples of electrocyclic reactions. In the first reaction, the formation of the cyclic product is favored. In contrast, in the second reaction, ring-opening is favored due to the high ring strain associated with cyclobutene formation.
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Thermodynamic potentials are state functions that are extremely useful in analyzing a thermodynamic system. They have dimensions of energy. The four important thermodynamic potentials are internal energy, enthalpy, Helmholtz free energy, and Gibbs free energy. These thermodynamic potentials can be expressed using two of the following variables: pressure, volume, temperature, and entropy. These two variables are expressed as the rate of change of the thermodynamic potential with respect to other...
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Spontaneous Chemical Reactions
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Cellular processes such as building and breaking down complex molecules occur through stepwise chemical reactions. Some of these chemical reactions are spontaneous and release energy, whereas others require energy to proceed. Cells often couple the energy-releasing reaction with the energy-requiring one to carry out important cell functions. 
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Asymmetric Thermoelectrochemical Cell for Harvesting Low-grade Heat under Isothermal Operation
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Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer Aided Thermoelectric Energy Conversion and Storage.

Yang Wang1,2, Yongqiang Dai1, Longbin Li1

  • 1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of industrial surfactant and Flexible Sensing Technology Research Center, Institute of Chemical Engineering, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, No 318, Chebeixi Road, Guangzhou, 510665, China.

Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|July 8, 2023
PubMed
Summary

This study enhances low-grade heat thermoelectric conversion using proton Soret effect and proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) in hydrogels. This approach boosts efficiency and enables energy storage, addressing key challenges in sustainable thermoelectric power generation.

Keywords:
Energy StorageIonic ConductorSoret EffectThermoelectric ConversionThermopower

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Electrochemistry
  • Energy Conversion

Background:

  • Low-grade heat is abundant but challenging to convert efficiently using traditional thermoelectric materials.
  • Ionic conductors often suffer from low efficiency and poor sustainability for thermoelectric applications.
  • Developing sustainable and efficient methods for thermoelectric conversion is crucial for waste heat recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To enhance thermoelectric performance by combining the Soret effect of protons with proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactions.
  • To investigate the potential of hydrogels as a medium for efficient thermoelectric energy conversion.
  • To explore the possibility of integrating energy storage capabilities into thermoelectric devices.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized hydrogels incorporating benzoquinone and hydroquinone redox couples.
  • Leveraged the Soret effect of protons to drive thermoelectric conversion.
  • Integrated proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactions to enhance charge transport.
  • Characterized thermoelectric properties including thermopower, power factor, and figure of merit.

Main Results:

  • Achieved significant enhancements in thermopower (25.9 mV K⁻¹), power factor (5 mW m⁻¹ K⁻²), and figure of merit (>2.4).
  • Demonstrated continuous power output through the combined Soret effect and PCET.
  • Showcased energy storage capability with retained power output of 27.7% (14 mW m⁻²) for over 3 hours after temperature gradient removal.

Conclusions:

  • The synergistic combination of proton Soret effect and PCET in hydrogels offers a promising route for efficient low-grade heat thermoelectric conversion.
  • The developed system exhibits improved thermoelectric performance and integrated energy storage, enhancing sustainability.
  • This approach paves the way for novel, sustainable thermoelectric generators and energy harvesting devices.