Seebeck effect in electrolytes

Abstract

We study Seebeck effect in liquid electrolytes, starting from its simple neutral analog--thermodiffusion (so-called Ludwig-Soret or Soret effect). It is observed that when two or more subsystems of mobile particles are subjected to the temperature gradient, various types of them respond to it differently. In the case when these fractions, with different mobility parameters (Soret coefficients), are oppositely charged (a case typical for electrolytes), the nonhomogeneous internal electric field is generated. The latter field prevents these fractions from space separation and determines the intensity of the appearing Seebeck effect.

Flexible Quasi‐Solid State Ionogels with Remarkable Seebeck Coefficient and High Thermoelectric Properties

“…It is usually less than 20 kJ mol −1 for infinite diluted aqueous solution because the solvent molecules that solvate the ions can screen the Coulombic interaction among the ions, [36] and the corresponding Seebeck coefficient is less than 1 mV K −1 . [11,37] The Q* value can be much higher for concentrated solutions like ionic liquids as suggested by Eastman, although it is difficult to estimate the Q* value of highly concentrated solution. [14] This may explain why ionic liquids and some concentrated solutions can exhibit a Seebeck coefficient of >1 mV K −1 (Tables S1 and S2 in the Supporting Information).…”

“…The Q * value is related to the interactions among the ions and that between the ions and solvent molecules. It is usually less than 20 kJ mol −1 for infinite diluted aqueous solution because the solvent molecules that solvate the ions can screen the Coulombic interaction among the ions, and the corresponding Seebeck coefficient is less than 1 mV K −1 . The Q * value can be much higher for concentrated solutions like ionic liquids as suggested by Eastman, although it is difficult to estimate the Q * value of highly concentrated solution .…”

Ionic thermoelectric materials for waste heat harvesting

“…Seebeck effect describes the generation of a voltage difference in the material following a temperature difference between the cold and hot sides of the material. This voltage difference appears due to the thermal diffusion of charge carriers, which can be electrons or, in the case of this study, ions (charged particles) [12]. The general equation describing the current density in a thermoelectric device has the form:…”

“…The first term in the equation is the contribution from any externally applied bias and the second is the thermoelectric contribution. Here σ is the conductivity tensor, ∇V is the applied voltage gradient, β is the thermoelectric tensor and ∇T is the temperature gradient [12].…”

Plasmon‐Enhanced Photodetection in Ferromagnet/Nonmagnet Spin Thermoelectric Structures

“…The enhancement of ZT is limited by the interrelation of the two conductivities (σ and κ); thus, considerable effort has been devoted to decouple them via electronic structure modifications or the reduction in lattice thermal conductivity using phonon scattering . Moreover, alternative approaches to enhance the thermoelectric efficiency have been studied in various materials . Among them, the spin thermoelectric effect utilizes the thermoelectricity in magnetic multilayers, which has the advantages over the conventional Seebeck effect such as a simple device structure, scaling competence, and possibility to control electrical and thermal conductivities independently .…”