Thermally Chargeable Supercapacitor: Utilizing Thermally-Driven Ion Transport

该项目的最终目标是开发一种新型的同步能量收集和存储系统，该系统利用通常被浪费的低品位热量，例如人体热量，以便可穿戴和便携式电子设备可以在不从外部电源插座充电的情况下供电。该项目研究在温度梯度下控制离子传输的关键机制，以便同时收集和存储电能。这项研究的实质是了解离子如何在温度梯度下传输，这对其他领域产生了更广泛的影响，包括生物技术，微流体和燃料电池，用于控制反应和流动方向。通过实验室体验和广播教育学生和普通观众的简化核心知识可以为其他相关技术提供灵感。了解显着增加热功率的关键机制与产生的电压直接相关，达到实际可穿戴电子设备可以操作的水平。特别是，该项目研究了固态离子导体中增塑剂依赖的热诱导离子输运。增塑剂不仅使移动的离子从束缚在聚合物长主链上的抗衡离子中松开，而且还显著影响温度梯度下的离子迁移。然而，这些方面几乎没有被研究和理解。本项目主要研究离子和增塑剂的热扩散方向，增塑剂对离子热扩散的促进作用，以及增塑剂产生的电容效应。基于基础研究获得的知识，将开发和测试最佳设计的可热充电超级电容器。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The ultimate goal of this project is to develop a novel simultaneous energy harvesting and storage system that utilizes typically wasted low-grade heat such as human body heat so that wearable and portable electronics can be powered without electrical charging from an external power outlet. This project investigates the key mechanisms for controlling ion transport under temperature gradients so as to simultaneously harvest and store electrical energy. The essence of this study is to understand how ions transport under temperature gradients, which has broader impacts on other fields including biotechnology, microfluidics, and fuel cells for controlling reactions and flow directions. Simplified core knowledge for educating students and general audience through lab experience and broadcasting could provide inspiration for other related technologies. Understanding the key mechanisms in remarkably increasing thermopower is directly tied to the generated voltage to a level that actual wearable electronics can be operated. In particular, this project investigates plasticizer-dependent thermally-induced ion transport in solid-state ionic conductors. The plasticizer not only loosens the mobile ions from the counter ions tethered to the long backbone of the polymer, but also significantly affects ion transport under temperature gradients. Nevertheless these aspects have barely been studied and understood. This project mainly studies the thermal diffusion direction of ions and plasticizers, the role of plasticizers in promoting the thermal diffusion of ions, and the capacitance effect from the plasticizers. Based on the knowledge gained through the fundamental studies, optimally designed thermally chargeable supercapacitors are to be developed and tested.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.