MXene and Carbon‐Based Electrodes of Thermocells for Continuous Thermal Energy Harvest

Low‐grade heat represents a significant form of energy loss; thermocells (TECs) utilizing the thermogalvanic effect can convert thermal energy into electricity without generating vibrations, noise, or waste emissions, making them a promising energy conversion technology for efficiently harvesting low‐grade heat. Despite recent advancements, the reliance on high‐cost platinum electrodes in TECs has considerably hindered their widespread adoption. Developing cost‐effective electrodes that maintain the same thermoelectrochemical performance is crucial for the successful application of TECs. In this review article, the exploration of MXene materials as TEC electrodes is discussed first, emphasizing the immense potential of the MXene family for low‐grade heat harvesting applications. Next, recent research on carbon‐based electrodes is summarized, and morphological and structural optimizations are comprehensively discussed aiming at enhancing the thermoelectrochemical performance of TECs. In the concluding section, the challenges are outlined and future perspectives are offered, which provide valuable insights into the ongoing development of high‐performance TEC electrodes using MXene and carbon‐based materials. This review emphasizes on the exploration of MXenes as thermocell electrodes, highlighting the immense potential of MXene family in low‐grade heat harvest applications. Recent research progress of carbon‐based electrodes is subsequently summarized and discussed, which sheds light on the future development of high‐performance thermocell electrodes.