Porous Resistive Heater-Supported Bi_xSb_2–xTe₃ Thermoelectric Heterogeneous Catalysts for H₂O₂ Production

Abstract

The thermoelectric effect's potential in converting heat to electricity within solid-state materials has spurred interest across diverse applications, spanning power generation, temperature sensing, and thermal management. Leveraging this effect on catalytic reactions is an emerging pursuit. Integrating thermoelectric nanostructures as catalysts within reaction solutions offers intriguing possibilities for liquid-phase catalysis. Yet, maintaining precise and stable temperature gradients across these structures remains a significant challenge. To address this, heterogeneous catalysts are sought that can both explore fundamental thermoelectric phenomena and enable practical applications. This study introduces Ni/NiO porous-foam-supported BiSbTe catalysts. The foam serves as a high-surface-area support, resistive heater, and electron source. Investigating catalytic H 2 O 2 production reveals intriguing relationships between catalytic activity, thermoelectric properties, temperature differences, and electron flow density. The findings unveil the role of thermoelectrically generated electric fields in promoting catalytic processes, providing insights into designing efficient thermoelectric catalysts across various applications.