Recent Progress in Polymer Gel‐Based Ionic Thermoelectric Devices: Materials, Methods, and Perspectives

• Published in: Macromolecular rapid communications. Vol. 46; no. 8; pp. e2400837 - n/a
• Main Authors: Lee, Chia‐Yu, Hong, Shao‐Huan, Liu, Cheng‐Liang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.04.2025
• Subjects: Electric Conductivity; Electric Power Supplies; Electrode materials; Energy conversion; Energy conversion efficiency; Energy harvesting; gels; Gels - chemistry; Ion currents; Ions - chemistry; Polymer gels; Polymers; Polymers - chemistry; Redox properties; Seebeck coefficient; Seebeck effect; Sustainable energy; thermally chargeable capacitors; thermoelectric; Thermoelectric materials; thermogalvanic cells; Wearable Electronic Devices; Wearable technology; Seebeck coefficient; thermoelectric; gels; thermally chargeable capacitors; thermogalvanic cells
• ISSN: 1022-1336; 1521-3927; 1521-3927
• DOI: 10.1002/marc.202400837

Polymer gel‐based ionic thermoelectric (i‐TE) devices, including thermally chargeable capacitors and thermogalvanic cells, represent an innovative approach to sustainable energy harvesting by converting waste heat into electricity. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in gel‐based i‐TE materials, focusing on their ionic Seebeck coefficients, the mechanisms underlying the thermodiffusion and thermogalvanic effects, and the various strategies employed to enhance their performance. Gel‐based i‐TE materials show great promise due to their flexibility, low cost, and suitability for flexible and wearable devices. However, challenges such as improving the ionic conductivity and stability of redox couples remain. Future directions include enhancing the efficiency of ionic‐electronic coupling and developing more robust electrode materials to optimize the energy conversion efficiency in real‐world applications. This review summarizes the recent progress in gel‐based ionic thermoelectric materials, including thermally chargeable capacitors and thermogalvanic cells. Emphasis is placed on material innovations and strategies to optimize thermoelectric performance. Finally, future opportunities and challenges for enhancing ionic conductivity and device stability are discussed to guide ongoing research and development.