Volume 21, Issue 24 2502884
Research Article

P-N Series Integrated Ionic Thermoelectric Generator Based on Cation/Anion-Selective Hydrogels for Body Heat Harvesting

Jiafu Shen

Jiafu Shen

State Key Laboratory of Geomicrobiology and Environmental Changes, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074 China

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Yu Dai

Yu Dai

State Key Laboratory of Geomicrobiology and Environmental Changes, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074 China

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Fan Xia

Fan Xia

State Key Laboratory of Geomicrobiology and Environmental Changes, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074 China

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Xiaojin Zhang

Corresponding Author

Xiaojin Zhang

State Key Laboratory of Geomicrobiology and Environmental Changes, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074 China

E-mail: [email protected]

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First published: 27 April 2025

Abstract

Low-grade heat accounts for a significant portion of the heat, but is often overlooked and not utilized. Ionic thermoelectric generators (i-TEGs) are an ideal choice for harvesting low-grade heat due to their simple design and operation. However, challenges such as ion mobility regulation and the need for series integration still hinder their performance. In this work, an interesting approach is introduced to improve the thermoelectric efficiency of i-TEG by utilizing ion-selective hydrogels containing sodium chloride (NaCl). The anionic polymer in the cation-selective hydrogel is attractive to sodium ions, while the cationic polymer in the anion-selective hydrogel is attractive to chloride ions. This regulates the thermal mobility of ions in the hydrogel without polymer modification or the addition of some additives, thus enhancing or changing the Seebeck coefficient (S). By connecting 12 pairs of the P-type and N-type i-TEGs, a voltage of 1.54 V and an output power of 21 µW can be achieved on the surface of the body skin. This work opens a new horizon for obtaining high-performance i-TEGs through ion mobility regulation by ion-selective hydrogels, and highlights the prospect of P-N series integrated i-TEGs from hydrogels for body heat harvesting.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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