Thermopower Modulation of Chitosan Hydrogel <italic style="font-style: italic">via</italic> Complexation between Chitosan and Metal Ions

Xuan-Ran Li; Xiao-Han Sun; Hua-Feng Tian; Ang Lu

doi:10.1007/s10118-026-3583-z

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Thermopower Modulation of Chitosan Hydrogel via Complexation between Chitosan and Metal Ions

RESEARCH ARTICLE | Updated：2026-04-30

- Thermopower Modulation of Chitosan Hydrogel via Complexation between Chitosan and Metal Ions
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Vol. 44, Issue 5, Pages: 1475-1488(2026)
- Affiliations：
  
  a.Hubei Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Power Sources, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
  b.School of Light Industry Science and Engineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
- Author bio：
  
  anglu@whu.edu.cn
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-026-3583-z
  CLC：
- Received：29 October 2025，
  
  Revised：2026-01-15，
  
  Accepted：20 January 2026，
  
  Online First：01 April 2026，
  
  Published：05 May 2026
- Accepted：
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Li, X. R.; Sun, X. H.; Tian, H. F.; Lu, A. Thermopower modulation of chitosan hydrogel via complexation between chitosan and metal ions. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 1475–1488

Xuan-Ran Li, Xiao-Han Sun, Hua-Feng Tian, et al. Thermopower Modulation of Chitosan Hydrogel via Complexation between Chitosan and Metal Ions[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(5): 1475-1488. DOI: 10.1007/s10118-026-3583-z.
Li, X. R.; Sun, X. H.; Tian, H. F.; Lu, A. Thermopower modulation of chitosan hydrogel via complexation between chitosan and metal ions. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 1475–1488 DOI： 10.1007/s10118-026-3583-z.

Xuan-Ran Li, Xiao-Han Sun, Hua-Feng Tian, et al. Thermopower Modulation of Chitosan Hydrogel via Complexation between Chitosan and Metal Ions[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(5): 1475-1488. DOI: 10.1007/s10118-026-3583-z. DOI：

摘要

Chitosan-metal ion hydrogels

fabricated

via

freeze-casting

exhibit varied structures and thermoelectric coefficients from +1.6 mV·K

–1

to –18.4 mV·K

–1

providing a simple method for developing natural polymer thermoelectrics.

Abstract

Ionic thermoelectric gels based on the Soret effect play an important role in realizing the efficient conversion of thermal and electrical energy

which is crucial for renewable energy utilization and efficient energy management. In this study

chitosan hydrogels were fabricated by complexation of chitosan and various metal ions

via

a freeze-casting approach for unitization as ionic thermoelectric materials. Various aggregate structures

including loosely fibrous networks

oriented porous structures

and lamellar porous structures

were obtained owing to the different interactions between chitosan and metal ions. As a result of the synergy of both the aggregate structure and intermolecular interaction

the as-prepared chitosan hydrogels demonstrated wide thermoelectric coefficient ranging from +1.6 mV·K

−1

to −18.4 mV·K

−1

which can be achieved by simply involving different metal ions. The present work not only demonstrates the correlation between gel structure

intermolecular interactions

and thermoelectric performance

but also provides a simple approach for the fabrication and regulation of

natural polymer-based thermoelectric materials.

关键词

Keywords

references

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⁰

Thermopower Modulation of Chitosan Hydrogel via Complexation between Chitosan and Metal Ions

DOI：10.1007/s10118-026-3583-z

摘要

Abstract

关键词

Keywords

references