Regulating Thermogalvanic Effect and Mechanical Robustness via Redox Ions for Flexible Quasi-Solid-State Thermocells

Abstract The design of power supply systems for wearable applications requires both flexibility and durability. Thermoelectrochemical cells (TECs) with large Seebeck coefficient can efficiently convert low-grade heat into electricity, thus having attracted considerable attention in recent years. Utilizing hydrogel electrolyte essentially addresses the electrolyte leakage and complicated packaging issues existing in conventional liquid-based TECs, which well satisfies the need for flexibility. Whereas, the concern of mechanical robustness to ensure stable energy output remains yet to be addressed. Herein, a flexible quasi-solid-state TEC is proposed based on the rational design of a hydrogel electrolyte, of which the thermogalvanic effect and mechanical robustness are simultaneously regulated via the multivalent ions of a redox couple. The introduced redox ions not only endow the hydrogel with excellent heat-to-electricity conversion capability, but also act as ionic crosslinks to afford a dual-crosslinked structure, resulting in reversible bonds for effective energy dissipation. The optimized TEC exhibits a high Seebeck coefficient of 1.43 mV K−1 and a significantly improved fracture toughness of 3555 J m−2, thereby can maintain a stable thermoelectrochemical performance against various harsh mechanical stimuli. This study reveals the high potential of the quasi-solid-state TEC as a flexible and durable energy supply system for wearable applications.