US 12,245,506 B2
Hydro-electrochemical power generators and associated methods
Choongho Yu, College Station, TX (US); and Yufan Zhang, College Station, TX (US)
Assigned to The Texas A&M University System, College Station, TX (US)
Filed by The Texas A&M University System, College Station, TX (US)
Filed on Dec. 14, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/550,874.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/125,261, filed on Dec. 14, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0190226 A1, Jun. 16, 2022
Int. Cl. H10N 10/13 (2023.01); H01M 6/36 (2006.01); H10N 10/856 (2023.01)
CPC H10N 10/13 (2023.02) [H01M 6/36 (2013.01); H10N 10/856 (2023.02)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hydro-electrochemical power generator, comprising:
an interlayer having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and comprising a solid-state electrolyte comprising a water bearing hygroscopic material;
a first electrode in contact with the first end of the interlayer, wherein the first electrode comprises a first material that is a corrodible metallic material;
a second electrode in contact with the second end of the interlayer, wherein the second electrode comprises a second material that is a corrodible metallic material, and wherein an interfacial surface of at least one of the first and second electrodes in contact with the solid-state electrolyte comprises an oxidation layer containing β-FeOOH; and
at least one heat source coupled to one of the first electrode and the second electrode and configured to apply a temperature gradient across the first end and the second end of the interlayer, and wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are configured to output a non-zero electrical voltage in response to the application of the temperature gradient.