Integrated Moist-Thermoelectric Generator for Efficient Waste Steam Energy Utilization

Abstract

Industrial waste steam is one of the major sources of global energy losses. Therefore, the collection and conversion of waste steam energy into electricity have aroused great interest. Here, a “two-in-one” strategy is reported that combines thermoelectric and moist-electric generation mechanisms for a highly efficient flexible moist-thermoelectric generator (MTEG). The spontaneous adsorption of water molecules and heat in the polyelectrolyte membrane induces the fast dissociation and diffusion of Na+ and H+, resulting in the high electricity generation. Thus, the assembled flexible MTEG generates power with a high open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 1.81 V (effective area = 1cm2) and a power density of up to 4.75±0.4 µW cm−2. With efficient integration, a 12-unit MTEG can produce a Voc of 15.97 V, which is superior to most known TEGs and MEGs. The integrated and flexible MTEGs reported herein provide new insights for harvesting energy from industrial waste steam.