Redox Reaction by Thermal Excitation Carriers in Semiconductors: Semiconductor-Sensitized Thermal Cell

Abstract

The semiconductor-sensitized thermal cell (STC) is a groundbreaking thermal energy conversion technology capable of converting low-temperature heat (<200°C) directly into electricity. It is based on the concept of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC): the redox reaction of electrolyte ions initiated by thermally excited carriers in a semiconductor, not by photo excited carriers in a dye as DSSC. One of STC’s most appealing features is that once the STC reaches discharge termination, power generation can be restored by turning off the switch and leaving it in the heat source. This paper is the first comprehensive review in English of STC, which has previously confirmed bluetooth communication with asphalt heat and lithium-ion battery charging with geothermal heat in Mexico.