Low Curie temperature ferrofluid in magnetic-induced thermogalvanic cells for low-grade heat harvesting

• Main Author: Phangnesia, Charles
• Other Authors: Alex Yan Qingyu
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2024
• Subjects: Engineering; Thermogalvanic cell; Magnetic-induced; Low-grade heat; Heat harvesting; Low Curie temperature; Ferrofluid
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/181131
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Low-grade heat energy harvesting remains limited in efficiency due to low power generation. In this study, we propose a novel approach to enhance continuous power generation through a magnetic-induced thermogalvanic cell. This method aims to improve sustained current output in thermogalvanic systems. We present the synthesis of Mn0.5Zn0.5Al0.6Fe1.4O4 magnetic nanoparticles and the preparation of the ferrofluid using sodium citrate as a surfactant. The synthesized nanoparticles exhibit an average size of 10.49 nm, with a single-crystal spinel-type FCC structure and a Curie temperature of 44.42°C, offering excellent magnetic properties suited for low-grade heat energy harvesting. Testing the ferrofluid in a magnetic-induced thermogalvanic cell system demonstrated promising results, showing electrolyte movement within the system to support the ion transport between electrodes. Initial thermogalvanic performance tested on standard testing cell revealed that the prepared ferrofluid, when combined with the same redox couple concentration, achieved a higher Seebeck coefficient of -1.3 mV K-1, compared to -1.0 mV K-1 for the standard 0.2M Fe(CN)64-/Fe(CN)63- electrolyte, contribute in higher power generation. These findings indicate a promising direction for further research and development of magnetic-induced thermogalvanic cells.