The Recycling of waste heat through the Application of Nanofluidic ChannelS: Advances in the Conversion of Thermal to Electrical energy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - TRANSLATE (The Recycling of waste heat through the Application of Nanofluidic ChannelS: Advances in the Conversion of Thermal to Electrical energy)

Période du rapport: 2021-06-01 au 2022-05-31

Increasing energy consumption, the depletion of natural resources, climate change and decreasing air quality are among the biggest economic and social challenges that we face today. At the same time, waste heat energy discharged into the atmosphere is one of the largest sources of clean, fuel-free and inexpensive energies available, with 70 % of all energy generated on a daily basis being lost as waste heat.

Although technologies for converting waste heat into electrical energy exist, there is still no environmentally sustainable and efficient technology platform available for the viable harvesting of low-grade waste heat. There is therefore a clear need to develop an energy harvesting and conversion technology which has the potential to exceed the efficiency of current state-of-the-art devices whilst also utilising Earth-abundant materials.

The central aim of TRANSLATE is to develop a new proof-of-concept nanofluidic platform technology based on the flux of ions in nanochannels; leading to a breakthrough in versatile and sustainable energy harvesting and storage.

Three breakthrough science and technology targets have been identified:
1) Optimisation of ion movement and ion separation in nanochannels
2) The development of a sustainable and efficient heat-to-electrical energy platform
3) The creation of a novel continuous operation energy harvesting power source

TRANSLATE has the potential to reduce energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions on a local and global scale, thus improving citizens' quality of life and benefiting society.

Objective 1.1: Formulating tailor-made simulation models for thermally-induced transport in nanofluidic channels.
TUD have successfully modelled thermoelectric effects in nanochannels. These simulations have been tested and validated against analytical solutions.

1.2: Understanding the key physical effects governing energy conversion.
TUD have modelled nanochannel configurations by varying nanochannel widths and wall zeta potentials.

1.3: Formulating design guidelines for nanofluidic channels for energy harvesting.
The simulations and analytical models developed by TUD have enabled UCC and UL to assess different membrane and cell configurations for energy conversion, including electrolyte concentrations and nanochannel widths.

2.1: Development of a functionalised nanochannel platform based on optimal design.
Commercial anodised aluminium oxide membranes and those fabricated by UL have been successfully functionalised with organic ligands.

2.2: Integration of electrode and infiltration of electrolyte to fabricate nanofluidic energy harvester.
The nanochannels of functionalised AAO membranes were successfully infiltrated with electrolytes by researchers in UCC and UL using vacuum and ultrasonic methods. Methods for measuring the surface charge density inside porous nanochannel membranes were initiated in UCC.

2.3: Thermoelectric, electrical and structural characterisation of nanofluidic device.
Measurement systems have been established in UCC and UL to evaluate thermoelectrochemical cells and membranes developed in the project and compared to other porous membranes.

3.1: Synthesis and structural characterisation of electrode materials.
UL have fabricated and characterised Li and Na-ion electrodes. NiCoSe electrodes electrodeposited on Si/SiO2 substrates have been produced and characterised at UCC. Porous graphite electrodes have been fabricated by Cidete.

3.2: Initial electrochemical testing, under thermal gradient, of intercalation based cells for suitable electrolyte determination.
Four types of cells have been produced in UCC and UL for undertaking thermoelectrical measurements.

3.3: Systematic investigation of electrolyte salt, solvents and additives.
NaClO4-based electrolytes have been tested at UL for intercalation studies. The diffusion of aqueous ion pairs (redox couples) through AAO membranes has been investigated at UCC.

4.1: Support the widest dissemination of the project’s results and to lay the foundations for new interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research directions.
A Dissemination, Exploitation and Communication (DEC) Plan has been developed in collaboration with the TRANSLATE consortium.

4.2: Foster an active and dynamic information network among consortium members, by creating a clear DEC Plan.
The DEC Plan has been created and provided to all partners outlining the key objectives, audiences, messages, and channels for targeted TRANSLATE DEC activities. SMART targets have been developed to monitor the success of the DEC plan.

4.3: Facilitate collaboration and information exchange between different organisations involved in the debate on climate change.
TRANSLATE is an active member of the Environmental Research Institute (ERI) at UCC and presented at an ERI project showcase event where over 25 projects tackling climate change were discussed. TRANSLATE continues to proactively engage online with organisations, funders and researchers focused on climate change.

4.4: Liaise and build up a community of stakeholders (companies, end-users of the technology) to further develop and commercialise the technology.
TRANSLATE has joined the EIC portfolio on Energy Harvesting Conversion and Recovery, in order to connect with similar research projects and industry partners.

TRANSLATE researchers have taken the first steps towards fabricating a nanofluidic energy harvesting platform that will form the basis for converting low grade waste heat into electricity. Theoretical modelling of thermoelectric energy conversion in nanochannels has been used to guide experimental studies. There is also an opportunity to expand the technology into other areas if successful, such as power supplies for remote sensing.

Intellectual property (IP) identified from the project so far includes: (i) computational modelling of thermoelectric energy conversion in nanochannels (WP1), (ii) surface functionalisation of nanochannels (WP2), (iii) a system for characterising micro-thermoelectric devices (WP2) and (iv) thermoelectrochemical cell design. TRANSLATE members will focus on attending key networking events and conferences to create a road map for commercial exploitation. TRANSLATE is already part of the EIC ‘Green Technologies’ portfolio of projects, which will hopefully result in the sharing of information on new technologies.

TRANSLATE will empower new and high-potential actors towards future technological leadership. A key focus over the last 12 months has been the induction and training of TRANSLATE early-career researchers (PhD students and postdoctoral researchers). In addition to the mentorship provided by individual WP leaders and institutions, TRANSLATE has also provided a training session on Open Science and FAIR data. TRANSLATE early-career researchers are proactively encouraged to write guest articles for the website, speak at conferences, and participate in other DEC activities, to build their profile and experience. Several early career researchers presented at the 80th International Scientific Conference of the University of Latvia.

Image outlining the roles and responsibilities per consortium partner

Image explaining the proposed technology and concept behind TRANSLATE

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - TRANSLATE (The Recycling of waste heat through the Application of Nanofluidic ChannelS: Advances in the Conversion of Thermal to Electrical energy)

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