Abstract
Energy consumption continues to rise as society develops worldwide. Meanwhile, a lot of energy is wasted in the form of heat from various devices and systems. Here we report a new power generator, which works based on a difference in H+-ion concentration in a fuel cell structure and produces electricity by harvesting waste heat. The device works via the following three successive processes: H2 is oxidized at anode to H+ ions, the H+ ions then penetrate through a phosphoric acid-treated polybenzimidazole (PBI-PA) membrane and finally the H+ ions get reduced to H2 at cathode with electrons coming through external circuit from the anode. This system generates electricity at a current density of 21 mA cm−2 and a power density of 1.03 mW cm−2 at 170 °C. The cell's thermoelectric conversion efficiency at 170 °C is 13.72%, which is higher than typical values reported for many common thermoelectric materials in low temperature regimes. This innovative approach may allow for efficient generation of electricity from waste heat.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 101-107 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Nano Energy |
| Volume | 57 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 1 2019 |
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Keywords
- Electrical energy
- Fuel cell
- H-ion concentration cell
- Renewable energy
- Thermal conversion
- Waste heat
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Materials Science(all)
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Cite this
Harvesting waste heat energy by promoting H+-ion concentration difference with a fuel cell structure. / Liu, Yan; Chen, Yuanzhen; Ming, Jun; Chen, Li; Shu, Chengyong; Qu, Ting; Tan, Qiang; Liu, Yongning; Asefa, Teddy.
In: Nano Energy, Vol. 57, 01.03.2019, p. 101-107.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Harvesting waste heat energy by promoting H+-ion concentration difference with a fuel cell structure
AU - Liu, Yan
AU - Chen, Yuanzhen
AU - Ming, Jun
AU - Chen, Li
AU - Shu, Chengyong
AU - Qu, Ting
AU - Tan, Qiang
AU - Liu, Yongning
AU - Asefa, Teddy
PY - 2019/3/1
Y1 - 2019/3/1
N2 - Energy consumption continues to rise as society develops worldwide. Meanwhile, a lot of energy is wasted in the form of heat from various devices and systems. Here we report a new power generator, which works based on a difference in H+-ion concentration in a fuel cell structure and produces electricity by harvesting waste heat. The device works via the following three successive processes: H2 is oxidized at anode to H+ ions, the H+ ions then penetrate through a phosphoric acid-treated polybenzimidazole (PBI-PA) membrane and finally the H+ ions get reduced to H2 at cathode with electrons coming through external circuit from the anode. This system generates electricity at a current density of 21 mA cm−2 and a power density of 1.03 mW cm−2 at 170 °C. The cell's thermoelectric conversion efficiency at 170 °C is 13.72%, which is higher than typical values reported for many common thermoelectric materials in low temperature regimes. This innovative approach may allow for efficient generation of electricity from waste heat.
AB - Energy consumption continues to rise as society develops worldwide. Meanwhile, a lot of energy is wasted in the form of heat from various devices and systems. Here we report a new power generator, which works based on a difference in H+-ion concentration in a fuel cell structure and produces electricity by harvesting waste heat. The device works via the following three successive processes: H2 is oxidized at anode to H+ ions, the H+ ions then penetrate through a phosphoric acid-treated polybenzimidazole (PBI-PA) membrane and finally the H+ ions get reduced to H2 at cathode with electrons coming through external circuit from the anode. This system generates electricity at a current density of 21 mA cm−2 and a power density of 1.03 mW cm−2 at 170 °C. The cell's thermoelectric conversion efficiency at 170 °C is 13.72%, which is higher than typical values reported for many common thermoelectric materials in low temperature regimes. This innovative approach may allow for efficient generation of electricity from waste heat.
KW - Electrical energy
KW - Fuel cell
KW - H-ion concentration cell
KW - Renewable energy
KW - Thermal conversion
KW - Waste heat
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85058529107&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.nanoen.2018.12.022
DO - 10.1016/j.nanoen.2018.12.022
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85058529107
VL - 57
SP - 101
EP - 107
JO - Nano Energy
JF - Nano Energy
SN - 2211-2855
ER -