Heat energy-powered electrochemical cells
The present disclosure provides a heat energy-powered electrochemical cell including an anode, a cathode, and a solid metal polymer/glass electrolyte. The solid metal polymer/glass electrolyte includes between 1% and 50% metal polymer by weight as compared to total solid metal polymer/glass electrolyte weight and between 50% and 90% solid glass electrolyte by weight as compared to the total solid metal polymer/glass electrolyte weight. The solid glass electrolyte includes a working cation and an electric dipole. The heat energy-powered electrochemical cells may be used to capture heat from a variety of sources, including solar hear, waste heat, and body heat. The heat energy-powered electrochemical cells may be fabricated at large-area, thin cells.
1. A building comprising at least one roof or wall, the at least one roof or wall comprising a heat energy-powered electrochemical cell comprising:
an anode;
a cathode; and
a solid metal polymer/glass electrolyte, wherein the metal polymer and the glass electrolyte are intermixed with each other comprising:
between 1% and 50% metal polymer by weight as compared to total solid metal polymer/glass electrolyte weight; and
between 50% and 90% solid glass electrolyte by weight as compared to the total solid metal polymer/glass electrolyte weight,
wherein the solid glass electrolyte comprises:
a working cation; and
an electric dipole.
2. The building of claim 1 , wherein at least one roof comprises the heat energy-powered electrochemical cell as an outer roof layer.
3. The building of claim 1 , wherein at least one roof comprises the heat energy-powered electrochemical cell under a protective roof layer.
4. The building of claim 3 , wherein the protective roof layer comprises shingles.
5. The building of claim 3 , wherein the protective roof layer comprises the heat energy-powered electrochemical cell on an interior roof surface or under an interior layer.
6. The building of claim 5 , wherein the interior layer comprises a ceiling.
7. The building of claim 1 , wherein at least one wall is an exterior wall comprising the heat energy-powered electrochemical cell.
8. The building of claim 1 , wherein at least one wall is an interior wall comprising the heat energy-powered electrochemical cell.
9. The building of claim 8 , wherein the interior wall surrounds heat-generating equipment.
10. The building of claim 1 , wherein the heat energy-powered electrochemical cell delivers, at a given temperature or within a given temperature range, at least 85% as much electric power (P dis ) as an electrochemical cell having the same anode, the same cathode, and the solid glass electrolyte but lacking the metal polymer.
11. The building of claim 1 , wherein the heat energy-powered electrochemical cell delivers, at a given temperature or within a given temperature range, at least 125% as much electric power (P dis ) as an electrochemical cell having the same anode, the same cathode, and the solid glass electrolyte but lacking the metal polymer.
12. The building of claim 1 , wherein the heat energy-powered electrochemical cell has a Young's modulus of less than 120 GPa/mm 2 .
13. The building of claim 1 , wherein the solid metal polymer/glass electrolyte has a Young's modulus of less than 120 GPa/mm 2 .
14. The building of claim 1 , wherein the heat energy-powered electrochemical cell has a surface area of a largest external surface of at least 1 m 2 .
15. The building of claim 1 , wherein the solid metal polymer/glass electrolyte has an ionic conductivity that is at least 25% of the ionic conductivity of the solid glass electrolyte at 25° C.
16. The building of claim 1 , wherein the anode comprises a metal foil.
17. The building of claim 1 , wherein the anode comprises carbon.
18. The building of claim 1 , wherein the metal polymer comprises a metal polyacrylate.
19. The building of claim 18 , wherein the metal polyacrylate comprises sodium polyacrylate.
20. The building of claim 1 , wherein the metal polymer comprises a metal polyethylene glycol.
21. The building of claim 1 , wherein the metal in the metal polymer comprises sodium (Na), lithium (Li), or aluminum (Al).
22. The building of claim 1 , wherein the solid metal polymer/glass electrolyte adheres to the cathode, the anode, or both.
23. The building of claim 1 , wherein the working cation comprises lithium ion (Li + ), sodium ion (Na + ), potassium ion (K + ) magnesium ion (Mg 2+ ), copper ion (Cu + ), or aluminum ion (Al 3+ ).
24. The building of claim 1 , wherein the dipole has the general formula A y X z or the general formula A y-1 X z −q , wherein A is Li, Na, K, Mg, and/or Al, X is S and/or O, 0<z≤3, y is sufficient to ensure charge neutrality of dipoles of the general formula A y X z , or a charge of −q of dipoles of the general formula A y-1 X z −q , and 1≤q≤3.
25. The building of claim 24 , wherein the dipole comprises up to 50 wt % of the solid glass electrolyte weight of a dipole additive.
26. The building of claim 25 , wherein the dipole additive comprises one or a combination of compounds having the general formula A y X z or the general formula A y-1 X z −q , wherein A is Li, Na, K, Mg, and/or Al, X is S, O, Si, and/or OH, 0<z≤3, y is sufficient to ensure charge neutrality of dipole additives of the general formula A y X z , or a charge of −q of dipole additives of the general formula A y-1 X z −q , and 1≤q≤3.
27. The building of claim 1 , wherein the cathode comprises a metal foil.
28. The building of claim 1 , wherein the cathode comprises carbon.
29. The building of claim 1 , wherein the cathode comprises a metal foam.
30. The building of claim 1 , wherein the cathode comprises a metal oxide.
31. The building of claim 1 , wherein the heat energy-powered electrochemical cell is powered by solar heat.
32. The building of claim 1 , wherein the heat energy-powered electrochemical cell is powered by waste heat.
33. The building of claim 1 , further comprising a rechargeable battery or fuel cell electrically connected to the heat energy-powered electrochemical cell.