Photothermally Activated Pyroelectric Polymer Films for Harvesting of Solar Heat with a Hybrid Energy Cell Structure

Abstract

Photothermal effects in poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)s (PEDOTs) were explored for pyroelectric conversion. A poled ferroelectric film was coated on both sides with PEDOT via solution casting polymerization of EDOT, to give highly conductive and effective photothermal thin films of PEDOT. The PEDOT films not only provided heat source upon light exposure but worked as electrodes for the output energy from the pyroelectric layer in an energy harvester hybridized with a thermoelectric layer. Compared to a bare thermoelectric system under NIR irradiation, the photothermal-pyro-thermoelectric device showed more than 6 times higher thermoelectric output with the additional pyroelectric output. The photothermally driven pyroelectric harvesting film provided a very fast electric output with a high voltage output (Vout) of 15 V. The pyroelectric effect was significant due to the transparent and high photothermal PEDOT film, which could also work as an electrode. A hybrid energy harvester was assembled to enhance photoconversion efficiency (PCE) of a solar cell with a thermoelectric device operated by the photothermally generated heat. The PCE was increased more than 20% under sunlight irradiation (AM 1.5G) utilizing the transmitted light through the photovoltaic cell as a heat source that was converted into pyroelectric and thermoelectric output simultaneously from the high photothermal PEDOT electrodes. Overall, this work provides a dynamic and static hybrid energy cell to harvest solar energy in full spectral range and thermal energy, to allow solar powered switching of an electrochromic display.

Hybrid Photothermal Pyroelectric and Thermogalvanic Generator for Multisituation Low Grade Heat Harvesting

“…Seemingly, the intermittency issue can be circumvented, by alternatively intercepting and capturing of solar thermal energy fluxes. [25][26][27][28][29][30][31] Thermoelectric generator harvests energy via the Seebeck effect triggered by static temperature differences, while the pyroelectric generator delivers through the change of spontaneous polarization in response to dynamic temperature fluctuations. [18][19][20][21][22][23][24] Also, harvesting of ubiquitous low grade waste heat is presently perceived as a promising energy source toward decarbonized and sustainable ecology.…”

“…[25][26][27][28][29][30][31] Thermoelectric generator harvests energy via the Seebeck effect triggered by static temperature differences, while the pyroelectric generator delivers through the change of spontaneous polarization in response to dynamic temperature fluctuations. [25][26][27][28][29][30][31] Thermoelectric generator harvests energy via the Seebeck effect triggered by static temperature differences, while the pyroelectric generator delivers through the change of spontaneous polarization in response to dynamic temperature fluctuations.…”

All-in-one energy harvesting and storage devices

“…Using the hybrid energy harvester, the Li-ion battery could be easily charged from 1 V to 3.7 V in only about 376 s. Under a constant discharging current of 5 mA, the charged Li-ion battery can continue to operate for about 327 s before it gets back to the original value of 1 V, corresponding to total electric capacity of 0.45 mA h. In 2015, Park et al reported a hybrid cell based on a DSSC solar cell with a pyroelectric and thermoelectric device operated by photothermally generated heat, as shown in . 87 The photoconversion efficiency (PCE) was increased up to 20% under sunlight irradiation (AM 1.5G) using the transmitted light through the DSSC as a heat source that was converted into electricity by the pyroelectric and thermoelectric effects simultaneously by the photothermal poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) electrodes. Interestingly, as PV works under sunlight, the output voltage from the PV device continuously decreased because of the fast recombination phenomenon during the PV operation (Fig.…”

Construction of a photothermal Venus flytrap from conductive polymer bimorphs

“…The photothermal properties of CPs have been intensely investigated only in the fields of photothermal energy harvesting and cell engineering. [21][22][23][24][25][26] Therefore, the application of highly photothermal CPs, such as PEDOTs, into foldable bimorphs is an interesting challenge. The other challenge is the fabrication of bimorphs with CPs, which involves the transfer of a CP layer onto a soft layer.…”