Electrode potential modified by gelatin surface charge

Abstract

Recently, it has been reported that electrolytes containing gelatin or other substances cause an enhanced temperature coefficient (α) of the electrode potential E in thermoelectric devices. Here, we investigated the effect of gelatin on E. We found that only the contact with gelatin in electrolytes significantly reduces E by several hundred millivolts. Through systematic experiments with various electrolytes, we ascribed the reduction in E to the positive surface charge of gelatin.