MnO₂-Based Thermopower Wave Sources with Exceptionally Large Output Voltages

Abstract

Miniaturization of conventional energy sources has so far proven to be a cumbersome process. A recently developed concept of thermopower waves has shown tremendous potential to reduce the dimensions of power sources while maintaining their energy generation capabilities. We demonstrate a tremendous improvement in the output for these thermopower wave-based energy generation devices by implementing manganese dioxide (MnO 2 ) as the core thermoelectric material. In this work, the thermoelectric MnO 2 layer is used as a pathway for the propagation of thermopower waves that are generated as a result of an exothermic chemical reaction of a solid fuel (nitrocellulose). Such selfpropagating thermopower waves result in exceptionally high voltage output on the order of 1.8 V and a specific power (power-tomass ratio) on the order of 1.0 kW•kg −1 . The output voltage is at least 300% higher than any other thermopower wave system reported so far.

Elemental Analogues of Graphene: Silicene, Germanene, Stanene, and Phosphorene

“…The lattice κ can be manipulated depending on the application. For instance, thermopower wave sources benefit from a high κ , while conventional thermoelectric applications require a low κ . The thermal conductivity can be engineered by introducing additional scattering sites (intercalants) within the van der Waals gap, which can reduce κ for conventional thermoelectric applications.…”

Low Dimensional Carbon Materials for Applications in Mass and Energy Transport

“…Their analysis also showed lack of oscillations in output when using Bi 2 Te 3 with terracotta, a comparatively low thermal conductivity material. 86 Other works in this field explore using other conduit materials such as Sb 2 Te 3 , 88 MnO 2 , 89 and ZnO. 90 Analytical work in this area has also advanced the understanding of self-propagating reaction waves.…”

Thermoelectric transport and microstructure of optimized Mg2Si0.8Sn0.2

“…A relatively new approach is the use of thermoelectric materials as thermopower wave based energy sources. Such devices from nanoscale thermoelectric materials and chemical fuels employ high energy charge carriers in a non-equilibrium state to create considerable voltages and electrical power and may find application as miniature power source 2,3 . The efficiency of the heat to electrical energy conversion is linked to the thermoelectric figure of merit of the materials, given by = 2 .…”