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，该系统利用通常浪费的低品位热量，如人体热量，这样可穿戴和便携式电子设备就可以在没有外部电源插座充电的情况下供电。本项目研究温度梯度下控制离子输运的关键机制，从而同时收集和储存电能。本研究的实质是了解离子在温度梯度下的输运方式，这对生物技术、微流体、燃料电池等其他领域的反应和流动方向的控制具有更广泛的影响。通过实验室体验和广播，简化核心知识，对学生和普通观众进行教育，可以为其他相关技术提供灵感。了解显著提高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。特别地，本项目研究了固态离子导体中依赖增塑剂的热诱导离子输运。增塑剂不仅使束缚在聚合物长骨架上的反离子的移动离子松动，而且显著影响温度梯度下离子的输运。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与增塑剂的热扩散方向，增塑剂对离子热扩散的促进作用，增塑剂的电容效应。基于通过基础研究获得的知识，优化设计的热充电超级电容器将被开发和测试。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，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.