Advances in Thermo-Electrochemical (TEC) Cell Performances for Harvesting Low-Grade Heat Energy: A Review

Igor Burmistrov, Rita Khanna, Nikolay Gorshkov, Nikolay Kiselev, Denis Artyukhov, Elena Boychenko, Andrey Yudin, Yuri Konyukhov, Maksim Kravchenko, Alexander Gorokhovsky and Denis Kuznetsov
Additional contact information
Igor Burmistrov: Department of Functional Nanosystems and High-Temperature Materials, National University of Science and Technology MISiS, Leninskiy Prospekt 4, 119049 Moscow, Russia
Rita Khanna: School of Materials Science and Engineering (Ret.), The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
Nikolay Gorshkov: Department of Chemistry and Technology of Materials, Yuri Gagarin State Technical University of Saratov, Politechnicheskaya Street 77, 410054 Saratov, Russia
Nikolay Kiselev: Department of Functional Nanosystems and High-Temperature Materials, National University of Science and Technology MISiS, Leninskiy Prospekt 4, 119049 Moscow, Russia
Denis Artyukhov: Department of Chemistry and Technology of Materials, Yuri Gagarin State Technical University of Saratov, Politechnicheskaya Street 77, 410054 Saratov, Russia
Elena Boychenko: Department of Functional Nanosystems and High-Temperature Materials, National University of Science and Technology MISiS, Leninskiy Prospekt 4, 119049 Moscow, Russia
Andrey Yudin: Department of Functional Nanosystems and High-Temperature Materials, National University of Science and Technology MISiS, Leninskiy Prospekt 4, 119049 Moscow, Russia
Yuri Konyukhov: Department of Functional Nanosystems and High-Temperature Materials, National University of Science and Technology MISiS, Leninskiy Prospekt 4, 119049 Moscow, Russia
Maksim Kravchenko: Moscow Power Engineering Institute, National Research University, 111250 Moscow, Russia
Alexander Gorokhovsky: Department of Chemistry and Technology of Materials, Yuri Gagarin State Technical University of Saratov, Politechnicheskaya Street 77, 410054 Saratov, Russia
Denis Kuznetsov: Department of Functional Nanosystems and High-Temperature Materials, National University of Science and Technology MISiS, Leninskiy Prospekt 4, 119049 Moscow, Russia

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 15, 1-17

Abstract: Thermo-electrochemical cells (also known as thermocells, TECs) represent a promising technology for harvesting and exploiting low-grade waste heat (<100–150 °C) ubiquitous in the modern environment. Based on temperature-dependent redox reactions and ion diffusion, emerging liquid-state thermocells convert waste heat energy into electrical energy, generating power at low costs, with minimal material consumption and negligible carbon footprint. Recent developments in thermocell performances are reviewed in this article with specific focus on new redox couples, electrolyte optimisation towards enhancing power output and operating temperature regime and the use of carbon and other nanomaterials for producing electrodes with high surface area for increasing current density and device performance. The highest values of output power and cell potentials have been achieved for the redox ferri/ferrocyanide system and Co 2+/3+ , with great opportunities for further development in both aqueous and non-aqueous solvents. New thermoelectric applications in the field include wearable and portable electronic devices in the health and performance-monitoring sectors; using body heat as a continuous energy source, thermoelectrics are being employed for long-term, continuous powering of these devices. Energy storage in the form of micro supercapacitors and in lithium ion batteries is another emerging application. Current thermocells still face challenges of low power density, conversion efficiency and stability issues. For waste-heat conversion (WHC) to partially replace fossil fuels as an alternative energy source, power generation needs to be commercially viable and cost-effective. Achieving greater power density and operations at higher temperatures will require extensive research and significant developments in the field.

Keywords: thermo-electrochemical cells; energy harvesters; low grade waste heat; wearable electronics; micro supercapacitors; thermoelectrics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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