Strong thermoelectric response of nanoconfined weak electrolytes

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that nanoconfined weak electrolytes exhibit an exceptionally strong thermoelectric response due to temperature-dependent ion dissociation, surpassing previous Seebeck coefficient values.

Contribution

It introduces an extended Nernst-Planck model accounting for temperature-dependent dissociation, revealing enhanced thermoelectric effects in nanochannel electrolytes.

Findings

Record-high Seebeck coefficients achieved.

Thermoelectric response strongly depends on ion dissociation equilibrium.

Nanochannel confinement amplifies thermoelectric effects.

Abstract

When dissolved, weak electrolytes only partially dissociate into ions in a temperature-dependent process. We show herein that such incomplete dissociation yields an enormous thermoelectric response in an electrolyte-filled nanochannel along which a temperature gradient is applied. For this purpose, an extended version of the Nernst-Planck equations is developed that takes into account the temperature-dependent dissociation-association equilibrium. The results indicate that in this way, Seebeck coefficients can be achieved that outperform all previously reported values.