TY - JOUR
T1 - The thermoelectrochemistry of the aqueous iron(II)/iron(III) redox couple: significance of the anion and pH in thermogalvanic thermal-to-electrical energy conversion
AU - Buckingham, Mark
AU - Marken, Frank
AU - Aldous, Leigh
PY - 2018/10/1
Y1 - 2018/10/1
N2 - Thermogalvanic conversion of temperature gradients into electricity via a redox couple represents a potential method of waste energy harvesting, but inexpensive, effective and sustainable redox couples are required. In this study four aqueous Fe(II)/Fe(III) salt systems are considered, based upon ammonium iron sulphate, iron sulphate, iron trifluoromethanesulfonate and iron nitrate. A range of Seebeck coefficients were observed, from +0.18 ± 0.04 mV K−1 for ammonium iron(II/III) sulphate to +1.46 ± 0.02 mV K−1 for acidified iron(II/III) trifluoromethanesulfonate, both at a temperature difference of 20 K; notably these apparent Seebeck coefficients vary with temperature difference due to significant chemical equilibria. The iron(II/III) nitrate system generated the highest thermogalvanic power output. The systems were probed by cyclic voltammetry, pH, UV-Vis spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and two competing mechanisms noted, which strongly affect both the current output and Seebeck coefficient (i.e. potential output) of their thermoelectrochemical cells (or thermocells). Green and economic consideration are important aspects if these systems are to be employed in harvesting low-grade heat energy at a larger scale; iron nitrate and acidified iron sulphate were the most highly competitive systems.
AB - Thermogalvanic conversion of temperature gradients into electricity via a redox couple represents a potential method of waste energy harvesting, but inexpensive, effective and sustainable redox couples are required. In this study four aqueous Fe(II)/Fe(III) salt systems are considered, based upon ammonium iron sulphate, iron sulphate, iron trifluoromethanesulfonate and iron nitrate. A range of Seebeck coefficients were observed, from +0.18 ± 0.04 mV K−1 for ammonium iron(II/III) sulphate to +1.46 ± 0.02 mV K−1 for acidified iron(II/III) trifluoromethanesulfonate, both at a temperature difference of 20 K; notably these apparent Seebeck coefficients vary with temperature difference due to significant chemical equilibria. The iron(II/III) nitrate system generated the highest thermogalvanic power output. The systems were probed by cyclic voltammetry, pH, UV-Vis spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and two competing mechanisms noted, which strongly affect both the current output and Seebeck coefficient (i.e. potential output) of their thermoelectrochemical cells (or thermocells). Green and economic consideration are important aspects if these systems are to be employed in harvesting low-grade heat energy at a larger scale; iron nitrate and acidified iron sulphate were the most highly competitive systems.
U2 - 10.1039/C8SE00416A
DO - 10.1039/C8SE00416A
M3 - Article
SN - 2398-4902
JO - Sustainable Energy and Fuels
JF - Sustainable Energy and Fuels
ER -