Thermal batteries based on inverse barocaloric effects.

Zhang, Zhe; Li, Kuo; Lin, Shangchao; Song, Ruiqi; Yu, Dehong; Wang, Yida; Wang, Jingfan; Kawaguchi, Shogo et al. · Sci Adv · 2023

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

To harvest and reuse low-temperature waste heat, we propose and realize an emergent concept-barocaloric thermal batteries based on the large inverse barocaloric effect of ammonium thiocyanate (NH<sub>4</sub>SCN). Thermal charging is initialized upon pressurization through an order-to-disorder phase transition, and the discharging of 43 J g<sup>-1</sup> takes place at depressurization, which is 11 times more than the input mechanical energy. The thermodynamic equilibrium nature of the pressure-restrained heat-carrying phase guarantees stable long-duration storage. The barocaloric thermal batteries reinforced by their solid microscopic mechanism are expected to substantially advance the ability to take advantage of waste heat.