• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
• /
• v.40 no.11
• /
• pp.1010-1015
• /
• 2012

In this study, a thin-film thermo-electrochemical cell that directly converts waste thermal energy into electrical energy was fabricated. Electrical conductivity of conducting carbon fiber, which was used as flexible electrode, was increased through coating of carbon nanotube, and resistance of the CNT-coated fiber electrode was not changed even after bending test with various curvatures. Maximum output power of the thermocell was increased quadratically with the temperature difference, and showed a value of about 2.5 mW/kg at temperature difference of $3.4^{\circ}C$. As a result of discharge test for 12 hours, it is confirmed that the cell can operates continuously. And thin-film thermocell wrapped around a pipe with hot liquid flowing within was demonstrated. Internal resistance of the cell was decreased with various curvature of heat pipe, and maximum output power was increased by 30 %. Therefore, the cell can be applied to various heat source.