Nitrogen- and Boron-Doped Carbon Nanotube Electrodes in a Thermo-Electrochemical Cell

We explore the prospects of using doped carbon nanotube (CNT) electrodes to increase the output power of thermo-electrochemical cells (TECs). CNT buckypaper electrodes doped with nitrogen and boron were characterized using cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy, and TEC test with potassium ferri/ferrocyanide electrolyte. Both doping states increased the electrochemically active surface area of CNT electrodes. Electrostatic interactions with potassium ions altered the charge transfer kinetics for doped CNT electrodes; yet, the symmetry of the charge transfer remained approximately equal to that of pristine CNTs. In TEC test, accumulation of potassium ions at doped CNT electrodes was found to reduce short-circuit current.