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Asymmetric Thermoelectrochemical Cell for Harvesting Low-grade Heat under Isothermal Operation

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Published on: February 5, 2020

Phase-Transitional Ionic Thermocells for the Enhanced Thermoelectric Efficiency.

Chang Seo Park¹, Jinwoo Park², Hakjun Lee¹

¹Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea.

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

|May 24, 2025

Summary

This study introduces a novel ionic thermogalvanic cell that utilizes phase transitions in ionic liquids to significantly boost energy harvesting from low-grade heat. This innovation enhances voltage and power generation for wearable electronics.

Keywords:

flexible thermocells ionic liquids ionic thermocells phase transition thermoelectric

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Area of Science:

Materials Science
Energy Harvesting
Thermoelectrics

Background:

Soft and wearable electronics require efficient, adaptable power sources.
Ionic thermoelectrics offer a low-cost, eco-friendly solution for converting low-grade heat (<100 °C) into electricity.
Enhancing voltage and power generation is crucial for practical ionic thermocell implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop an ionic thermogalvanic cell with improved performance using a phase-transitioning ionic liquid.
To demonstrate a strategy for boosting energy harvesting efficiency without complex components.

Main Methods:

An ionic thermogalvanic cell was constructed using 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, an ionic liquid.
The ionic liquid's solid-to-liquid phase transition in different temperature regions was leveraged to enhance performance.
Performance metrics including the Seebeck coefficient, power output, and figure of merit were compared to a homogeneous liquid-state cell.

Main Results:

The phase-transitional system showed a 2.2-fold increase in Seebeck coefficient (3.89 mV/K) and a 3.66-fold enhancement in power output (15.9 nW) compared to the liquid-state cell under a 20 °C temperature difference.
The figure of merit improved by 3.47-fold (0.52).
Consistent improvements were observed across various phase-transitioning electrolytes, indicating broad applicability.

Conclusions:

Phase transition in ionic liquids is an effective strategy to significantly enhance ionic thermogalvanic cell performance.
This approach offers a pathway for efficient energy harvesting from low-grade heat, suitable for sustainable energy technologies.
The findings pave the way for scalable applications in soft and wearable electronics.