Developing Nanoporous Thermoelectric Energy Conversion Systems Based on Capacitive Effect

建议的研究集中在一种新的能源收集方法上，这种方法可以从周围环境(如体温、太阳能、地热能、地下水/水和地面/空气之间的温度梯度等)中产生有用的电力。这种技术从根本上不同于传统的直接热电转换方法，后者通常基于塞贝克效应。它有助于解决限制能量转换效率的热短路问题，即除了能量转换外，热传导还会造成巨大的热能损失。在本研究中，纳米多孔材料将被用作大面积电极。如果两个纳米多孔电极被放置在不同的温度下，它们会吸收不同数量的离子，产生净输出电压。热驱动离子进入或流出纳米孔时，会在固相中产生瞬变电流。初步的实验数据显示了令人鼓舞的结果。输出电压/功率和能量转换效率比传统热电材料高出几个数量级。除了开发先进的能量转换技术外，这项研究还将揭示离子在纳米环境中运动的基本机制，这对微传输、能量存储、纳米材料加工等研究至关重要。这些努力将促进纳米孔技术在新领域的应用。这笔赠款还将为提交人的教学工作提供重要支持。实验视频和可视化计算机模拟模块将用于一些本科生和研究生课程，对课程有相当大的影响。将鼓励女学生和代表性不足的少数群体参加研讨会并参加课程。研究生将积极参与该项目，并获得全面的实践研究经验。

0754802QiaoThe proposed research is focused on a novel approach of energy harvesting, which can generate useful electricity from ambient environment (e.g. body temperature, solar thermal energy, geothermal energy, temperature gradients between ground/water and ground/air, etc.). This technique is fundamentally different from conventional methods of direct thermoelectric energy conversion, which is usually based on the Seebeck effect. It helps to solve the thermal shorting problem that limits the energy conversion efficiency; that is, in addition to the energy conversion, heat conduction also causes a significant thermal energy loss. In this research, nanoporous materials will be employed as large-surface-area electrodes. If two nanoporous electrodes are placed at different temperatures, they absorb different amounts of ions, generating a net output voltage. The thermally driven ion motion into or out of nanopores causes a transient current in the solid phase. The preliminary experimental data have shown encouraging results. The output voltage/power and the energy conversion efficiency are higher than that of conventional thermoelectric materials by orders of magnitude. Broader ImpactIn addition to the development of advanced energy conversion techniques, this study will also shed light on fundamental mechanisms of ion motion in nanoenvironment, which is critical to the studies on microtransportation, energy storage, nanomaterials processing, etc. These efforts will promote the application of nanoporous technology in new areas. This grant will also provide an important support to the author's pedagogical efforts. Video of experiments and visualized computer simulation modules will be used in a number of undergraduate and graduate courses, having considerable impact on the curriculum. Female students and under-represented minorities will be encouraged to attend the seminars and take the courses. Graduate students will be actively involved in the project and acquire comprehensive hands-on research experience.