Enhanced Thermoelectric Power in Ionic Liquids

Abstract

Abstract The thiolate/disulfide organic redox couple (McMT − /BMT), derived from 2‐mercapto‐5‐methyl‐1,3,4‐thiadiazole (McMT), recently proposed as an alternative to usual inorganic couples in dye‐sensitized solar cells, exhibits a remarkable reversibility and stability in a thermogalvanic cell containing a 1‐ethyl‐3‐methyimidazolium tetrafluoroborate/acetonitrile (EMIMBF 4 /AN) mixture. The thermoelectric power depends strongly on concentrations of both the ionic liquid and the redox couple. It is enhanced by a factor of six at high ionic‐liquid concentrations. The control of these parameters can be used to enhance the thermopower and the thermoelectric efficiency of future ionic‐liquid thermocells.