A magnetic ionic liquid redox couple for harvesting waste heat and mechanical energy

This study reports a thermo-electrochemical cell based on ionic liquids 1-buty1-3-methylimidazolium chloride center dot FeCl3 and 1-buty1-3-methylimidazolium chloride center dot FeCl2. This system showed a high ion conductivity of ca.7 S m(-1) the oxidized form of 1-buty1-3-methylimidazolium chloride center dot FeCl3 is paramagnetic, the diffusion was controllable under a magnetic field. When a magnet was touched to one of the electrodes of the thermo-electrochemical cell, a potential difference of several mV was generated. The unique properties of the magnetic ionic liquid redox couple suggest new possibilities for simultaneously harvesting thermal and mechanical energies. , a low charge transfer resistance of 0.9 epsilon cm(2) on a Pt electrode, and a thermopower of 0.26 mV K-1. Because the oxidized form of 1-buty1-3-methylimidazolium chloride center dot FeCl3 is paramagnetic, the diffusion was controllable under a magnetic field. When a magnet was touched to one of the electrodes of the thermo-electrochemical cell, a potential difference of several mV was generated. The unique properties of the magnetic ionic liquid redox couple suggest new possibilities for simultaneously harvesting thermal and mechanical energies.