Thermoelectricity
Articles tagged with Thermoelectricity
Computer-designed thermoelectric generator achieves more than eightfold improvement in efficiency
A breakthrough in computer-designed thermoelectric generators has achieved more than eight times better efficiency than conventional designs. The innovative approach uses topology optimization to precisely control heat flow and minimize electrical resistance.
Chiral phonons create orbital current via their own magnetism
Chiral phonons can generate orbital currents in common crystal materials without needing magnetic elements, offering a promising path to developing less expensive and energy-efficient orbitronic devices. This breakthrough is made possible by the intrinsic magnetism of chiral phonons, which allows them to convert into orbital current.
N-type SnSe polycrystalline thermoelectric material: High performance enabled by liquid phase sintering
Researchers have optimized the thermoelectric performance of SnSe using liquid phase sintering, introducing excess metallic tin to fill intrinsic vacancies and reduce electron trapping. This process results in a lattice thermal conductivity as low as 0.21 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹ at 793 K, achieving an exceptional ZT value of approximately 1.9.
Study reveals randomly aligned defects key to thermal properties
A QUT research team discovered that randomly aligned edge dislocations are responsible for the low thermal conductivity of certain materials. This finding provides a new design principle for creating materials with tailored thermal properties, which could improve efficiency in thermoelectric generators and thermal insulation.
Boosting thermoelectric efficiency by 91% with oxygen vacancies
A team of scientists at Pohang University of Science & Technology has developed a novel approach to enhance thermoelectric efficiency by controlling oxygen vacancies. By precisely controlling the number of oxygen vacancies in materials, they achieved a remarkable 91% improvement in thermoelectric performance.
World’s first observation of the transverse Thomson effect
Researchers at NIMS have successfully observed the transverse Thomson effect, a phenomenon that releases or absorbs heat when a heat current, charge current, and magnetic field are applied orthogonally. This achievement could lead to breakthroughs in thermoelectric effects and thermal management technologies.
Thermoelectric performance boost through targeted strategy
Researchers at Queensland University of Technology developed a targeted copper doping strategy to enhance the thermoelectric properties of germanium telluride. This approach achieved an improvement of over 50% in figure of merit, outperforming previous versions.
Black metal could give a heavy boost to solar power generation
Researchers at the University of Rochester have developed a new type of solar thermoelectric generator that can harness thermal energy in addition to sunlight. The device is 15 times more efficient than current state-of-the-art devices, making it a promising source of renewable energy.
Extrinsic n‑doping of a double B←N bridged bipyridine-based polymer containing oligoethylene glycol side chains
The authors successfully endow a double B←N bridged bipyridine-based polymer with mixed conduction by incorporating oligoethylene glycol side chains, resulting in higher conductivity and capacitance. This breakthrough enhances the potential of n-type BNBP-based OMIEC materials for organic electronic devices.
Enhancing power factor of p- and n-type single-walled carbon nanotubes
The study improves the thermoelectric properties of p-type and n-type single-walled carbon nanotubes, increasing their power factor to twice and three times that of pristine SWCNTs. The underlying mechanisms involve energy filtering and charge transfer processes.
Crystal clear design for high-performance flexible thermoelectric semiconductor
Researchers at Queensland University of Technology have developed a new material that can convert body heat into electricity with improved mechanical properties and flexibility. The material, AgCu(Te, Se, S), was enhanced using vacancy engineering techniques.
Breakthrough in solar thermoelectric generation: organic radical photothermal cocrystals lead the way
Researchers have developed a new material, coronene-Br2 NDA cocrystal, which converts solar heat into electricity with an exceptional photothermal conversion efficiency of 67.2% under 808 nm irradiation. The material is integrated into a thermoelectric generator to achieve high-performance solar-thermoelectric energy harvesting.
New hybrid materials as efficient thermoelectrics
Researchers developed new hybrid materials with reduced lattice vibrations and increased mobility of charge carriers, achieving more than a 100% increase in efficiency. This breakthrough decouples heat and charge transport, enabling stable and cheaper thermoelectric materials that can compete with existing compounds.
A bio-inspired thermoelectric cement towards self-powered buildings
Researchers developed a bio-inspired thermoelectric cement with a Seebeck coefficient of −40.5 mV/K, surpassing previous materials by ten times. The composite achieves superior mechanical strength and energy storage potential, enabling continuous power supply for electronic devices.
Cooling materials – Out of the 3D printer
Scientists from ISTA create thermoelectric coolers with improved performance and reduced waste by 3D printing materials, offering potential for medical applications and energy harvesting. The innovative method reduces production costs and enhances material properties.
Turning car and helicopter exhaust into thermoelectric energy
Researchers have developed a compact thermoelectric generator system that efficiently converts exhaust waste heat from high-speed vehicles into electricity. The prototype achieved an output power of 40 Watts, with enhanced efficiency under high airflow conditions.
Ingenious atomic manipulation induced plainer lattice makes better thermoelectric cooler and power generator
Researchers have developed a new thermoelectric material by introducing copper atoms into commercial n-type Bi₂Te₃-based alloys. This enhances carrier mobility and improves the device's performance, resulting in higher power factor and ZT values. The study's findings hold promise for practical applications in power generation and cooling.
Revolutionizing ionic thermoelectrics: machine learning unlocks high-performance materials
A team of researchers developed a machine learning framework to streamline the discovery of high-performance ionic thermoelectric materials. The approach predicted Seebeck coefficients with high accuracy and identified critical molecular descriptors influencing material performance.
Organic electrolyte for high output liquid thermoelectric converter
Researchers have developed a new strategy to increase the output of liquid thermoelectric converters using organic electrolytes. By breaking down electrolyte resistance into its components, they reduced resistance and demonstrated a prototype with equal or greater output than aqueous solutions. The team plans to expand their search for...
Enhancing transverse thermoelectric conversion performance in magnetic materials with tilted structural design
Researchers developed artificial materials with improved transverse magneto-thermoelectric conversion performance through structural design. The findings provide new guidelines for designing materials and new ways to utilize the anomalous Nernst effect for practical applications.
Breakthrough brings body-heat powered wearable devices closer to reality
A QUT-led research team developed an ultra-thin, flexible film that converts body heat into power, enabling sustainable energy for wearable electronics. The technology also offers efficient cooling methods for chips, potentially improving smartphone and computer performance.
SNU researchers develop technology to optimize organic thermoelectric device performance using machine learning
Researchers at Seoul National University have developed a machine learning-based design of experiments method that optimizes the performance and process conditions of organic thermoelectric devices, enabling efficient evaluation of key variables and reducing experimental time. The technology has the potential to significantly improve d...
Breakthrough in clean energy: Scientists pioneer novel heat-to-electricity conversion
Researchers demonstrate transverse thermoelectric conversion in WSi2 for the first time, using mixed-dimensional Fermi surfaces to enable TTE effect. The study paves the way for developing new sensors and efficient thermoelectric materials.
Understanding the thermoelectric transport properties of organic semiconductors through the perspective of polarons
Researchers investigated the thermoelectric transport properties of organic semiconductors using a polaronic charge conduction model. They linked experimental observations to build a unified picture of thermoelectric transport physics in organic semiconductors, showcasing promising applications like thermoelectric radiation sensing.
SwRI’s Dr. James Walker receives Distinguished Scientist Award from Hypervelocity Impact Society
Dr. James Walker has received the Distinguished Scientist Award for his significant contributions to hypervelocity impact science and penetration modeling. His research applications include body armor, ground vehicle armor, and shielding against orbital debris.
Energy localization in three-dimensional nanostructure
A novel 3D tubular photothermoelectric detector was designed and fabricated, demonstrating enhanced light absorption and heat localization. This leads to improved photo-thermo-electric conversion, resulting in high sensitivity, wide spectral response range, and omni-directional detection capabilities.
New organic thermoelectric device that can harvest energy at room temperature
Researchers at Kyushu University developed a new organic thermoelectric device that can generate power from ambient temperature. The device, composed of copper phthalocyanine and fullerenes, achieved an open-circuit voltage of 384 mV and a short-circuit current density of 1.1 μA/cm².
Revolutionizing thermoelectric technology: Hourglass-shaped materials achieve a 360% efficiency boost
Researchers at POSTECH have developed an innovative approach to enhance the efficiency of thermoelectric materials by altering their geometry to resemble an hourglass shape. This breakthrough could lead to widespread applications in thermoelectric power generation, converting waste heat into electricity.
Solving the doping problem: Enhancing performance in Organic Semiconductors
Scientists have found novel methods to enhance the conductivity of organic semiconductors by emptying their valence bands, leading to unprecedented levels of doping. This breakthrough could lead to higher-power thermoelectric devices that convert waste heat into electricity.
Scientists observe record-setting electron mobility in a new crystal film
Physicists have achieved a record-setting level of electron mobility in a thin film of ternary tetradymite, a class of mineral found in gold and quartz deposits. The material's high electron mobility makes it suitable for efficient thermoelectric devices that convert waste heat into electricity.
A Ted Talk in thermo detection
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University propose locally embedded thermoelectric devices (TEDs) to actively cool hot spots in circuits. TEDs remove heat from hot spots using thermoelectric effects, improving cooling efficiency by a factor of 100 compared to conventional materials.
Carbon nanotube yarns generate electricity from waste heat
Researchers at Okayama University have developed a novel method to produce carbon nanotube yarns with excess electrons that can harvest waste heat. The yarns achieved high thermoelectric power factors within temperatures ranging from 30 to 200 °C, making them suitable for practical applications such as fabric-based modules.
Powering wearable devices with high-performing carbon nanotube yarns
Scientists at Nara Institute of Science and Technology create flexible wearable thermoelectric generators that produce electricity from body heat using high-performing carbon nanotube yarns. The yarns, developed through a low-cost and environmentally friendly method, show three times higher power factor than previous CNT yarns.
A powerful tool speeds success in achieving highly efficient thermoelectric materials
New approach uses calculation to predict band convergence in materials, allowing for rapid creation of high-performance thermoelectric devices. The method enables elimination of unnecessary possibilities, increasing efficiency and reducing false starts.
Exceptionally large transverse thermoelectric effect produced by combining thermoelectric and magnetic materials
A team of researchers has created a thermoelectric composite that exhibits a substantially larger transverse thermoelectric effect than existing magnetic materials, enabling the development of simpler thermoelectric devices. The device achieved a maximum output voltage of 15.2 μV/K, approximately six times larger than expected.
Good vibrations: New tech may lead to smaller, more powerful wireless devices
Researchers at the University of Arizona and Sandia National Laboratories have developed a new class of synthetic materials that enable giant nonlinear interactions between phonons. This breakthrough could lead to smaller, more efficient wireless devices, such as smartphones or other data transmitters.
DGIST develops thermoelectric material with optimal cost, efficiency, and flexibility! Pioneering a new era in eco-friendly thermoelectric technology
A team at DGIST has developed an 'Inorganic-Organic Thermoelectric Composite' that promises competitive pricing while addressing efficiency and flexibility challenges in thermoelectric technology. The breakthrough is expected to revolutionize traditional industries and pave the way for advancements in new sectors.
Advancement in thermoelectricity could light up the Internet of Things
Researchers at Osaka University have developed a new thermoelectric material that can improve the efficiency of temperature-to-electricity conversion, enabling more sustainable IoT applications. The innovation has potential to power environmental monitoring systems and wearable devices.
Towards realizing eco-friendly and high-performance thermoelectric materials
Researchers developed inverse-perovskite-based thermoelectric materials with low lattice thermal conductivity and high power factor, promising eco-friendly alternatives to toxic heavy element-based materials. The materials exhibit high energy conversion efficiency, comparable to toxic elements in the same temperature range.
Glass packaging with a mix of thermoelectric in the vias
Researchers have developed a thermal management technique for photonic packages using glass substrates and thermoelectric vias, enabling precise temperature control. The technology, termed SimTEC, combines through glass vias partially filled with copper and thermoelectric materials to reduce thermal resistance between chips.
WVU research helps power plants recycle water using wastewater from oil and gas mining
Researchers at WVU develop a cotreatment process that reduces demand for chemicals to soften wastewater, allowing treated water to be reused up to 99% of its original volume. The study's findings offer a potential solution to the industry's water use challenge and could close the cycle of treating cooling tower blowdown and reusing it.
Golden future for thermoelectrics
Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have discovered a new metallic alloy of nickel and gold that exhibits exceptional thermoelectric properties, enabling high electrical power generation. The alloy outperforms conventional semiconductors in terms of power density and thermoelectric efficiency.
Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory restores cold sensation in amputees’ phantom limbs
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory developed a wearable thin-film thermoelectric cooler that enables amputees to perceive temperature sensations in their phantom limbs. The technology has practical applications for improved prostheses, haptics, and pain management.
Novel thermal sensor could help drive down the heat
Researchers created a thin, flexible sensor that can visualize heat flow in real-time using thermoelectric phenomenon ANE. The sensor can be built deep inside devices and is quick, cheap, and easy to manufacture.
Turning waste heat into energy
The team created a thermocell using a hydrogel that reacted to temperature changes, converting latent heat into electricity. This breakthrough supports the idea that various materials can be used for thermoelectric conversion, potentially reducing reliance on other energy sources and improving cooling systems.
Front cover highlights "innovative approach" of research into 2D materials
Lancaster University researchers have developed a novel scanning thermal microscopy approach to directly measure the heat conductivity of two-dimensional materials. This breakthrough enables the creation of efficient waste heat scavengers generating cheap electricity, new compact fridges, and advanced optical and microwave sensors and ...
Curious compound: Tin selenide may hold the key for thermoelectric solutions
Scientists found that atomic-level structural changes in tin selenide help it conduct electricity but not heat, making it a promising material for thermoelectric solutions. The discovery could lead to new technologies for applications like refrigeration and waste heat recovery.
Capturing electricity by a fresh effective and reliable same-parent thermoelectric module
Scientists create a novel thermoelectric module composed of both n-type and p-type Mg3Sb2-based alloys. The modules exhibit excellent matching TE and mechanical properties, enabling efficient power generation at medium temperatures.
Flexing crystalline structures provide path to a solid energy future
Researchers at Duke University have discovered a class of compounds called argyrodites that could lead to the development of safer and more efficient solid-state batteries. The materials' unique crystalline structures allow for fast ion conduction, making them promising candidates for energy storage applications.
Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology researchers enhance thermoelectricity with guided impurity position control
Researchers at GIST have developed an IDT-based polymer with low thermal conductivity and high electronic conductivity, improving thermoelectric performance. The new material demonstrates a 6-fold increase in efficiency compared to conventional materials.
Silver nanoparticles spark key advance in thermoelectricity for power generation
Researchers have developed a new approach to constructing thermoelectric modules using silver nanoparticles, enabling efficient energy conversion and operation across various temperatures. The discovery is expected to accelerate the development of advanced modules for power generation and other applications.
Breakthrough in waste heat to green energy: Materials boost record efficiency
Scientists at Penn State have developed a unique materials design that can push the conversion efficiency of thermoelectric devices up to 15%. This breakthrough could transform the design and development of next-generation thermoelectric devices, making them more efficient and competitive with other power generation technologies.
New passive device continuously generates electricity during the day or night
Researchers developed a new thermoelectric generator that can generate electricity using heat from the sun and radiative element, providing reliable power source for outdoor sensors and wearable electronics. The device works continuously during day or night and in cloudy conditions, addressing constraints of traditional power sources.
Towards more efficient and eco-friendly thermoelectric oxides with hydrogen substitution
Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have discovered a new approach to improve the performance of thermoelectric materials by substituting hydrogen for oxygen. This substitution reduces thermal conductivity while maintaining high electronic conductivity, leading to improved thermoelectric conversion efficiency.
WVU lab’s game-changing high-performance semiconductor material could help slash heat emissions
A team led by Xueyan Song at West Virginia University has created an oxide ceramic material that solves a longstanding efficiency problem plaguing thermoelectric generators. The breakthrough achieved record-high performance, opening up new research directions to further increase performance and enabling large-scale waste heat recovery.
Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology researchers develop a novel thermoelectric generator inspired from zebra skin
Researchers at GIST developed a novel thermoelectric generator inspired by zebra skin, creating a high in-plane temperature gradient for generating electricity. The design uses a pattern resembling black-and-white zebra stripes to increase its applicability while reducing environmental impact.
Clemson researchers, "father of Thermoelectrics" team up to develop new method to evaluate thermoelectric materials
A team of Clemson researchers has developed a new method to evaluate the efficiency of thermoelectric materials, called the figure-of-merit (zT), which considers temperature, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity. The new method uses Peltier cooling to measure zT with higher resolution and accuracy.
Enabling nanoscale thermoelectrics with a novel organometallic molecular junction
Researchers have developed novel organometallic molecular junctions that exhibit unprecedented thermoelectric performance, achieving a Seebeck coefficient of 73 μV/K. These results are promising for the development of nanoscale semiconductors and efficient thermoregulation.
A flexible device that harvests thermal energy to power wearable electronics
University of Washington researchers have created a flexible, wearable thermoelectric device that converts body heat into electricity. The device's stretchable and efficient properties enable seamless integration into wearables and soft robotics.