Solid-state energy harvesters comprising layers of metal suboxides and cerium dioxide utilizing a solid-state electrolyte to produce power and methods of making and using the same are provided. The solid-state energy harvester may have two or three electrodes per cell and produces power in the presence of water vapor and oxygen.

Devices that convert heat into electricity, and methods for a fabrication of the same are provided. The asymmetric thermo-electrochemical capacitor uses a GO-based positive electrode and a battery-type negative electrode to open up the operating voltage window and enhance the electrical discharge capacity for converting low-grade heat into electricity with excellent efficiency, fast thermo-charging time, and stable cycles. The thermo-electrochemical device includes a carbon-based positive electrode, a conductive polymer or a metal-organic framework as negative electrode, a current collector, and a porous separator.

A biogalvanic battery therapeutic appliance that can effectively pass electric current even at a negative electrode with an extended length and a high resistance value, achieving excellent current stimulation effect with comfortable touch, is configured such that a negative electrode component and a positive electrode component are connected to a conductive member and are brought into contact with a skin forming an energized circuit in the skin. The conductive member connects the negative electrode component and the positive electrode component between a surface of the negative electrode component and a surface of the positive electrode component on the opposite side from a skin contact surface. The conductive member and the positive electrode component are both made of the same carbon material.

A method of generating electrical energy using an electrochemical direct heat to electricity converter operating on the Rankine cycle is provided. The converter includes a working fluid, a high temperature electrochemical cell including a first membrane electrode assembly, a low temperature electrochemical cell including a second membrane electrode assembly, an evaporator coupled to the first electrochemical cell, a condenser coupled to the second electrochemical cell, and an external load. The method involves introducing the working fluid at the first membrane electrode assembly as a liquid, expanding the working fluid through the first membrane electrode assembly and evaporating it into a vapor, and cooling and condensing the vapor back into a liquid at the second membrane electrode assembly.

A method of generating electrical energy using an electrochemical direct heat to electricity converter operating on the Rankine cycle is provided. The converter includes a working fluid, a high temperature electrochemical cell including a first membrane electrode assembly, a low temperature electrochemical cell including a second membrane electrode assembly, an evaporator coupled to the first electrochemical cell, a condenser coupled to the second electrochemical cell, and an external load. The method involves introducing the working fluid at the first membrane electrode assembly as a liquid, expanding the working fluid through the first membrane electrode assembly and evaporating it into a vapor, and cooling and condensing the vapor back into a liquid at the second membrane electrode assembly.

A thermoelectric device includes a tubular electrode filled with an electrolyte, a core rod electrode inserted in the tubular electrode and in contact with the electrolyte, and at least one plug configured to separate the tubular electrode from the core rod electrode and to cover a filling opening of the tubular electrode. The plug is located between the tubular electrode and the core rod electrode. When the tubular electrode and the core rod electrode have a temperature difference, thermal energy can be directly converted into electric energy by the redox reaction of the electrolyte, and the tubular electrode and the core rod electrode can generate electromotive force. In particular, the thermoelectric device may use the structural design between the tubular electrode and the core rod electrode to provide a greater contact area with a heat source, and may be directly immersed in a heat source.

Microwave radiation may be applied to electrochemical devices for rapid thermal processing (RTP) (including annealing, crystallizing, densifying, forming, etc.) of individual layers of the electrochemical devices, as well as device stacks, including bulk and thin film batteries and thin film electrochromic devices. A method of manufacturing an electrochemical device may comprise: depositing a layer of the electrochemical device over a substrate; and microwave annealing the layer, wherein the microwave annealing includes selecting annealing conditions with preferential microwave energy absorption in the layer. An apparatus for forming an electrochemical device may comprise: a first system to deposit an electrochemical device layer over a substrate; and a second system to microwave anneal the layer, wherein the second system is configured to provide preferential microwave energy absorption in the device layer.

A heat to electricity converter including a working fluid and a pair of membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) is provided. Each MEA includes a pair of electrodes which are electron conductive and permeable to the working fluid, and a thin film electrolyte membrane sandwiched between the electrodes. The membrane is conductive of ions of the working fluid and has a thickness of 0.03 μm to 10 μm. At least one electrode of each MEA includes a non-porous and dense metal. One electrode of each MEA is in contact with the working fluid at a first, higher pressure, while the other electrode is in contact with the working fluid at a second, lower pressure. The first MEA is configured to compress the working fluid from the second pressure to the first pressure, while the second MEA is configured to expand the working fluid from the first pressure to the second pressure.

A heat to electricity converter including a working fluid and a pair of membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) is provided. Each MEA includes a pair of electrodes which are electron conductive and permeable to the working fluid, and a thin film electrolyte membrane sandwiched between the electrodes. The membrane is conductive of ions of the working fluid and has a thickness of 0.03 μm to 10 μm. At least one electrode of each MEA includes a non-porous and dense metal. One electrode of each MEA is in contact with the working fluid at a first, higher pressure, while the other electrode is in contact with the working fluid at a second, lower pressure. The first MEA is configured to compress the working fluid from the second pressure to the first pressure, while the second MEA is configured to expand the working fluid from the first pressure to the second pressure.

A biological battery includes a first cell layer formed of a sheet of biological cells polarized in a same direction, a second cell layer formed of a sheet of biological cells polarized in a same direction, a separating membrane disposed between the first cell layer and the second cell layer, and an encapsulating outer membrane encasing each of the first cell layer, the second layer and the separating membrane, wherein the encapsulating outer membrane is permeable to small molecules like glucose and amino acids, but substantially impermeable to larger proteins like antibodies.