A Thermosensitive Ionic Hydrogel for Thermotropic Smart Windows With Integrated Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting Capability

Harvesting low-grade waste heat into electrical energy is recognized as a promising solution for sustainable energy supply. In parallel, thermotropic smart windows have emerged as an efficient way to reduce building energy consumption. It is posit that thermotropic smart windows with inherent thermoelectric property may offer unique advantages for practical applications. Herein, the preparation and characterization of a series of ionic hydrogels that exhibit temperature-sensitive phase transition behavior is reported, which are suitable for both thermotropic smart windows and thermoelectric generators. Notably, the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of this ionic hydrogels can be feasibly modulated, and the thermoteopic phase transition also induces a sharp increase in their Seebeck coefficient, reaching up to 39.03 mV K-1 with a power factor (PFi) value up to 0.838 mW m-1 K-2. A prototype dual functional thermotropic smart window that simultaneously works as an ionic thermoelectric generator is further demonstrated, achieving both efficient phase transition driven by solar heat at approximate to 26 degrees C and an energy density up to 250 mJ m-2. This study offers new opportunity for the development of smart materials that can bridge the gap between thermal comfort and energy sustainability for energy harvesting and smart building applicat. A series of thermosensitive ionic hydrogels with lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phase transition behavior are prepared as ionic thermoelectric materials. The tunable LCST in combined with the excellent thermoelectric properties enables a prototype two-in-one thermotropic and thermoelectric smart window that can be adjusted to suit the application requirements in different regions and seasons. image