Thermo-Induced Electric Current from Viscose Rayon Sandwiched Between Metal Electrodes

Abstract

Viscose rayon sandwiched hetween metal electrodes has been found to generate electric current with temperature variation. The current is reproducible in successive heatings and is of electrochemical nature, since the magnitude and direction of current depend on the choice and combination of electrode materials. The glass rubber transition tempera ture of viscose is found to lie in the range 43-68°C, depending on the amount of sorbed water. The current is enhanced and glass-transition occurs at lower temperatures with increasing water content. Similarity between the plots of (1 R vs. T and (Is) vs. T, and constancy of the open circuit voltage difference at high temperature indicate that the metal viscose-metal system may be assumed to form a galvanic cell.