Issue 12, 2018

The thermoelectrochemistry of the aqueous iron(ii)/iron(iii) redox couple: significance of the anion and pH in thermogalvanic thermal-to-electrical energy conversion

Abstract

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.

Graphical abstract: The thermoelectrochemistry of the aqueous iron(ii)/iron(iii) redox couple: significance of the anion and pH in thermogalvanic thermal-to-electrical energy conversion

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
14 Aug 2018
Accepted
24 Sep 2018
First published
01 Oct 2018

Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2018,2, 2717-2726

The thermoelectrochemistry of the aqueous iron(II)/iron(III) redox couple: significance of the anion and pH in thermogalvanic thermal-to-electrical energy conversion

M. A. Buckingham, F. Marken and L. Aldous, Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2018, 2, 2717 DOI: 10.1039/C8SE00416A

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