PbTe-PbS/TiO 2 electrodes are produced via wet chemical routes for splitting water into hydrogen at the ambient temperatures. PbTe nano-crystals are firstly deposited via the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) treatment onto TiO 2 nanotube arrays (TNAs) prepared by anodic oxidation of Ti substrates. Subsequently, linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) is employed to convert the outer PbTe into PbS, producing PbTe-PbS/TiO 2 electrodes with a gradient p-n-n band configuration. With the external electric field, the vector charge transfer effect of the TNAs and the gradient energy band structure of PbTe-PbS/TNAs, the two electrode system in which PbTe-PbS/TNAs functions as the anode illustrates excellent hydrogen production activities. The whole electrochemical system consisted of anode, cathode, electrolyte serves as a hot side while the endothermic electrochemical reactions in hydrogen production as an in situ cold side. At 70 °C and 1.0 V bath voltage, the system registers 6.1 mL cm-2 h-1 rate of hydrogen generation, consuming electric power of 26.2 kWh kg-1 H 2 , with an energy efficiency of 88.5% and a heat efficiency of 49.9%. This method demonstrates a novel pathway to produce chemical energy from low quality waste heat, benefitting from thermoelectric and electrocatalytic coupling.

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Phase pure calcium cobaltate (Ca 1.24 Co 1.62 O 3.86 ) was prepared by Self-propagating High-temperature Synthesis (SHS) followed by a short post heat treatment. Prepared powders were characterized by XRD for phase purity, and SEM for particle size, and distribution. Temperature histories at the center and on the surface of reaction pellet during the SHS process were monitored and recorded. Particle size of synthesized powders was reduced using a planetary mill to increase its specific surface area. Electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and Seebeck coefficient of the prepared power were measured and figure of merit was reported.

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Thermoelectric calcium cobalt oxide (Ca1.24Co1.62O3.86) with high Seebeck coefficient was prepared by self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS) followed by a short post treatment process. Synthesized samples were analyzed by XRD for their phase purity for samples prepared from different reactants mixtures. A final element model of SHS of calcium cobalt oxide was developed to study the temperature history and reaction rate change during the synthesis. This model can be used to predict reaction temperatures for various initial conditions.