基植於氟烯磺酸聚合物/碳奈米複合薄膜材料的索雷特致電系統之研究

Abstract

一種新型態的熱電發電機，我們命名為索雷特致電系統，其基質於氟烯磺酸聚合物/碳奈米複合薄膜材料，具有可回收風力、熱、太陽能量的特性。這種新型態的發電機，藉由能量再生過程中的索雷特效應（Soret effect），而展現出不同於以往熱電材料的高席貝克係數（Seebeck coefficient）與優異的熱電特性。利用高分子奈米複合薄膜材料可彎曲的獨特性，將能廣泛從環境中獲得能量並將其轉換為可用的電能，而且不會產生任何汙染或噪音。藉由水分在奈米複合材料的流動和擴散，風、熱和太陽能將水分從薄膜中帶走而產生索雷特致電現象。將非熱電特性的氟烯磺酸聚合物薄膜添加介孔碳後，顯示出高熱電ZT（figures-of-merit）因子的特殊現象，這是由於奈米孔洞存在於介孔碳中。本研究中顯示，兩種比例的氟烯磺酸聚合物/介孔碳材的聚合物薄膜，Nf/PC5 and Nf/PC7，其席貝克係數分別可達-60400 μV/K and -39500 μV/K，且ZT值高達0.538和0.847。這特殊的薄膜能利用溫度梯度所造成的水分擴散致電，也能在無溫度梯度下，藉由薄膜表面空氣流動所造成的溼度梯度產生電力。例如，Nf/PC5的薄膜利用一微小風扇在薄膜表面吹拂，產生的電壓可達-0.553伏特，這和10度溫差下所造成的電壓值-0.565伏特頗為接近。實務上，太陽能的熱和藉由非穿透性黑色氟烯磺酸聚合物/介孔碳材的聚合物薄膜吸收轉為熱源都可被完整利用。這些發現，提供了新型態輕量化、乾淨、無噪音發電機系統一項新的選擇。雖然在效率上仍有改善的空間，但它充分利用自然能源，致電過程中僅僅是水分間的進和出，而不牽涉其他材料或化學反應。本研究顯示，藉由回收自然環境中豐富能源的新型態致電系統，將在綠色能源上極具潛力。

A new type of thermoelectric generator that we named Soret-electric generator is based on Nafion/carbon nanocomposite films that would recycle wind, heat, and solar energies. This new generator has demonstrated hugh Seebeck coefficient and excellent thermoelectric performance through using the Soret effect in the energy regeneration process. It uses unique flexible polymer nanocomposite films that can display various possibilities of gaining an abundant environment energies into usable electric energy without creating any pollutants or noises. With the aids of moisture flow and diffusion in the nanocomposite films, wind, heat, and solar energies carry the moisture away from the film to bring out the Soret effect electricity. The polymer nanocomposite films from a non-thermoelectric polymer Nafion with mesoporous carbon CMK-3 exhibit high thermoelectric figures-of-merit (ZT) due to the existence of nanopores in the mesoporous carbon. Two of the polymer composite films Nf/PC5 and Nf/PC7 exhibit remarkably high Seebeck coefficient of -60400 μV/K and -39500 μV/K and high ZT of 0.538 and 0.847 respectively. The unique films can regenerate electricity by temperature gradient as well as through moisture diffusion by air flow over one film surface with no temperature gradient. The field voltage of Nf/PC5 film through the moisture diffusion with mild wind flow from a small fan can reach -0.553V, close to the voltage value -0.565V under 10oC temperature gradient. The solar energy can be used with solar heat or by transforming light into heat on the top surface by the black non-transparent Nf/PC films. These discoveries provide new types of electric generators that are light in weight, environmentally clean, involves no moving part, and is completely noise-free. Although there is room for improvement on efficiency, it can regain underutilized natural energies without harm. The in- and out- material in the process is just moisture, with no need for other materials and no chemical reaction. This research show a new generator that can provide promising green energy supply by recycling the plentiful energy sources from natural environment.