Coupling an exothermic chemical reaction to a nanoscale thermal conductor accelerates the reaction wave along its length by rapidly transporting energy to un-reacted fuel regions. If the nanostructure also has high electrical conductivity, the wave induces a high-power-density thermopower wave of current in the same direction. At more than 7 W/g, these electrical pulses can be substantially more powerful than present micro-scale power sources (e.g. fuel cells, batteries) and even about seven times greater than commercial Li-ion batteries. MEMS devices and wireless sensor networks would benefit from such high-power-density sources to enable functions like communications and acceleration hampered by present power sources. Additionally, the 'self-discharge' rate of thermopower wave generators is very low when not in use, since their energy is stored in chemical bonds. Temperature measurements suggest differences between the physical processes of thermopower waves and the conventional explanation of thermoelectricity in carbon nanotubes.

Thermopower waves for high-density energy storage and generation

244th National Meeting (2012)

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