MnO₂-Based Thermopower Wave Sources with Exceptionally Large Output Voltages

Abstract

Miniaturization of conventional energy sources has so far proven to be a cumbersome process. A recently developed concept of thermopower waves has shown tremendous potential to reduce the dimensions of power sources while maintaining their energy generation capabilities. We demonstrate a tremendous improvement in the output for these thermopower wave-based energy generation devices by implementing manganese dioxide (MnO2) as the core thermoelectric material. In this work, the thermoelectric MnO2 layer is used as a pathway for the propagation of thermopower waves that are generated as a result of an exothermic chemical reaction of a solid fuel (nitrocellulose). Such self-propagating thermopower waves result in exceptionally high voltage output on the order of 1.8 V and a specific power (power-to-mass ratio) on the order of 1.0 kW·kg–1. The output voltage is at least 300% higher than any other thermopower wave system reported so far.