A group Scientists from Russia’s National University of Science and Technology MISIS proclaims the development of a new type of energy-efficient devices – thermocells, which convert heat into energy. According to the results published in the Renewable Energy journal by MISIS, the prototype will help develop portable batteries that can be applied to virtually any surface, including clothing, to generate electricity directly from the surface of the body.

The NUST MISIS Scientists came into the solution by developing a new model of thermocell, comprising metal oxide electrodes and an aqueous electrolyte. The combination will not only increase current, but also simultaneously reduce the internal resistance of the element. This combined with the use of water, will give the output an increase in power. They proclaims a voltage of up to 0.2 V at an electrode temperature of up to 85° C, which is 10-20 times power compared to analog.

"We have shown the possibility of using a nickel oxide electrode based on hollow nickel microspheres in a thermocell. A record for aqueous electrolytes hypothetical Seebeck coefficient has been reached. In addition, we have found a nonlinear change in current-voltage characteristics, which is not typical for thermocells, which ensures an increase in the device's efficiency," commented Igor Burmistrov, one of the authors of the work, a scientist from NUST MISIS.

As the global battery market is expected to reach 310.8 billion by 2027, the innovations in the segment are truly fueling the predictions. A few days back, a combined research by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay and Shiv Nadar University claims that they have developed a prototype to produce environment friendly Lithium-Sulfur (Li-S) batteries, which takes energy efficiency to a new level – as big as three times of the commonly used Lithium-ion batteries.