Researchers from Kyushu University in Japan have created an innovative organic device capable of harvesting energy from heat at room temperature, eliminating the need for a heat gradient. Unlike traditional thermoelectric generators, which rely on significant temperature differences, this new device employs a principle called charge separation.
Thermoelectric devices typically exploit the natural flow of heat from warmer to cooler areas, generating an electric current as electrons migrate. These generators have the potential to harness energy from small temperature variations in various settings, including engines and even body heat. However, the recent development allows for energy capture without any temperature gradient.
The device utilizes organic compounds that facilitate electron transfer. Layered like stairs, different compounds enable electrons and positive “holes” to separate and move in response to ambient heat, generating a current. The final design consists of 180 nanometers of copper phthalocyanine, 320 nanometers of copper hexadecafluoro phthalocyanine, and additional layers of fullerene and bathocuproine.
The resulting device achieved an open-circuit voltage of 384 millivolts and a short-circuit current density of 1.1 μA/cm², yielding a maximum output of 94 nW/cm². While these figures represent a modest amount of electricity, the ability to generate power at room temperature opens the door for simpler and potentially more accessible generators.
Professor Chihaya Adachi, the study’s lead author, expressed enthusiasm for future developments: “We would like to continue working on this new device and see if we can optimize it further with different materials. Increasing the device’s area could also enhance current density, underscoring the remarkable potential of organic materials.”
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