Aspects of Protonic Ionic Liquid as Electrolyte in Thermoelectric Generators

Abstract

The Seebeck coefficient (S _E) or thermopower and power output have been measured in a series of 16 ionic liquids (ILs). Thermoelectric current extraction is assisted by a dissolved redox couple (I₂/LiI) added to the IL. The experiments were carried out in a thermoelectric cell where the IL is packaged between two electrodes. A large range of Seebeck coefficients and power outputs could be observed. The highest S _E was measured for protonic ILs, reaching a value of 968 μV/K. Moreover, the maximal power output of an IL-based thermoelectric generator and the polarity of its electrodes depend on the concentration of the redox-active species in the IL. The power output of the generator increased continuously with the redox concentration up to a maximum value (at 0.4 mol/L) but decayed for higher concentrations. We showed that an IL with high S _E [linked to open-circuit voltage (V _OC)] does not necessarily lead to high power output; rather, it is carrier transport and extraction that determine the generator power. Surprisingly, the carrier extraction is not highest at the maximum electrode temperature difference; the power output observed for a given electrode temperature difference can be further increased by heating up the cold electrode in spite of the consequent reduction in the total temperature difference between the electrodes.