Articles tagged with Thermoelectricity
Researchers at West Virginia University have developed a unique solution to reduce the water used by thermoelectric power plants. By combining blowdown water with produced water from Marcellus gas wells, they can create clean enough water for reuse. This process also produces two valuable products: chlorine and 10-pound brine.
Researchers developed a thermoelectric module based on liquid-like materials, achieving a record-high energy conversion efficiency of 9.1%. The Cu2Se/Yb0.3Co4Sb12 TE module showed excellent service stability when the ratio of cross-sectional areas between p- and n-legs was higher than four.
The new bimetalic nanoantenna design generates three times more thermoelectric voltage and is 1.3 times more efficient than classic dipole nanoantennas for solar energy harvesting. This innovation has potential applications in waste heat energy harvesting, sensing, and other fields.
Scientists have been exploring new materials to harness thermoelectric power from waste heat, with researchers at the University of Texas using supercomputers to optimize material configurations. The team has made promising initial findings, showing that certain cobalt oxides can convert heat into electricity.
A Pittsburgh research team has been awarded $500,000 by the NSF to develop a thermoelectric semiconductor using tungsten disulfide. The goal is to improve thermoelectric efficiency and pave the way for widespread use of these devices in various applications.
Physicists have discovered a new effect, known as Kondo-like phonon scattering, which explains the low thermal conductivity of certain materials. This discovery paves the way for creating excellent thermal insulators that conduct electricity, enabling the conversion of waste heat into electrical energy.
Researchers have discovered a new class of half-Heusler thermoelectric compounds with a record high figure of merit, converting heat to electricity efficiently. The compound composed of tantalum, iron, and antimony demonstrated promising thermoelectric performance without using expensive elements.
Researchers from Osaka University developed a large-scale flexible thermoelectric generator module with high mechanical reliability and efficient power generation. The module achieved improved efficiency in recovering waste heat from curved heat sources, enhancing its mechanical reliability.
Physicist Zhifeng Ren, director of the Texas Center for Superconductivity at the University of Houston, has received a research award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation to collaborate with German researchers. He will focus on new fabrication techniques and thermoelectric materials to improve clean energy conversion.
Researchers successfully developed novel nanostructured films composed of low-cost and environmentally-friendly ZnO. The embedded-ZnO nanowire structure exhibits a 3-fold increase in thermoelectric power factor and a 20% decrease in thermal conductivity, enabling energy recovery from transparent objects.
The researchers are developing new materials based on 'laser ceramic - thermoelectric' heterostructures to improve the performance characteristics of final materials in several ways. They aim to create a structure where SrTiO3 and TiO2 grains are located in a 'checkerboard' order throughout all the volume of the material.
Researchers at ETH Zurich explore the coupling between heat and particle currents in a gas of strongly interacting fermionic atoms. They found an order of magnitude below predictions of the Wiedemann-Franz law, indicating separation of mechanisms responsible for particle and heat currents.
Physicists at the University of Tokyo have discovered a new method to generate electricity in special materials called Weyl magnets, exploiting temperature gradients. This could lead to the creation of low-power, low-maintenance electronic devices.
Researchers at Waseda University developed a novel silicon-nanowire thermoelectric generator that produces high power density of 12 microwatts per square centimeter at a mere 5°C thermal difference. This innovation has the potential to enable cost-effective, autonomous IoT applications with reduced fabrication costs.
Researchers at NIMS and Tohoku University observed an anisotropic magneto-Peltier effect, a phenomenon that manipulates the temperature of magnetic materials through simple redirection of charge current. This discovery has the potential to develop thermal management technologies for energy-efficient electronic devices.
Researchers from Siberian Federal University and Kirensky Institute of Physics have developed an approach for the controlled synthesis of semiconducting higher manganese silicide thin films. The team successfully targeted the formation of two phases, Mn4Si7 and Mn17Si30, with high charge carrier mobility.
MIT physicists have found a way to boost thermoelectricity's potential, with a theoretical method that could produce five times more efficient materials and potentially double the amount of energy generated. The new approach uses topological semimetals under strong magnetic fields, enabling electrons and holes to move in opposite direc...
The study explores the thermoelectric properties of nanometer-thick tin selenide crafted in thin films of connected 'nanoflakes', achieving a significant power factor improvement through doping with silver. This material has potential for miniaturized, environmentally friendly, low-cost thermoelectric and cooling devices.
Scientists have discovered a simple method to harness the thermoelectric effect by combining a graphite pencil with a conductive coating on paper. The resulting voltage is comparable to expensive nanocomposites, offering potential applications in flexible electronics and wearable devices.
Researchers at Hokkaido University developed a novel approach to improve thermoelectric material performance by harnessing high mobility two-dimensional electron gas. This enables efficient heat-to-electricity conversion, overcoming current limitations in industrial applications.
The research demonstrates significant potential for semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes as primary material for efficient thermoelectric generators. The discovery enables the fabrication of devices from a single material, simplifying production and improving performance.
The devices can be cut to the size needed for specific applications due to their symmetrical fractal wiring patterns. The modular generators could be inkjet printed on flexible substrates like fabric and manufactured using inexpensive roll-to-roll techniques.
The device uses a temperature difference between the hot and cold sides to generate electricity, with a high temperature difference of 20.9 °C, much higher than conventional wearable thermoelectric generators driven by body heat.
Researchers at the University of Houston have discovered a new mechanism to boost performance in thermoelectric materials by increasing carrier mobility, enabling more efficient electricity generation from waste heat. The work expands the potential of magnesium-antimony materials for use in thermoelectric devices.
Scientists demonstrate reversible manipulation of quantum interference in metal nanostructures by applying mechanical strain to deform the contact. This allows for the creation of a voltage switch with reliable performance over multiple cycles.
Researchers created nanostructures with varying widths that absorb different wavelengths of light, generating an electric current corresponding to the absorbed wavelength. The new detectors operate faster and detect a wider range of electromagnetic spectrum than traditional devices.
Researchers have designed a flexible thermoelectric energy harvester that rivals rigid devices, using liquid metal interconnects for low resistance and self-healing capabilities. The technology has the potential to power wearable electronics without batteries.
Researchers investigated electronic materials for micro-electronics, opto-electronics and quantum technologies, developing flexible thermoelectric zinc oxide thin films on cotton textiles. Aalto University's expertise in cutting-edge materials science is highlighted, with publications cited more often than the world average.
Nagoya University researchers have created whisker-like crystals composed of tantalum, silicon, and tellurium, which produce high thermoelectric powers over a wide temperature range. The crystals' unique one-dimensional electronic structures enable low electrical resistivity and improved cooling performance.
Researchers at Osaka University investigated the geometry of single molecule-electrode contacts on thermoelectric behavior. They found that the largest thermoelectric effect was observed for structures containing a stretched thiol linkage, which shifts the energy level to a more favorable position.
A new academic journal, Materials Today Physics, launched by UH physicist Zhifeng Ren will focus on thermoelectric and photovoltaic materials. The journal aims to speed the dissemination of crucial information about materials from discovery to application.
A team of researchers at Ohio State University has developed a device that converts waste heat into electricity, producing a voltage output 10 times higher than previous results. The innovation uses a composite material of nickel and platinum to amplify the voltage output through magnetism.
Researchers at UNIST have created a new type of high-performance thermoelectric material that can be directly painted onto any surface. This innovation enables the efficient collection of heat energy from industrial waste, potentially powering vehicles and other applications.
Researchers at Toyohashi University of Technology have successfully synthesized a new thermoelectric material, CaMgSi, with sufficient size and thermoelectric properties comparable to those of previously developed materials. The material exhibits both n- and p-type conductivity, making it suitable for power-generation modules.
Researchers aim to improve thermoelectric performance in polymeric materials with $900,000 US Department of Energy funding. This study could yield new materials for efficient energy harvesting and waste heat recovery.
Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz discovered a direct correlation between temperature-dependent generation of spin currents and atomic composition of interfaces. The study's findings contribute to the development of magnon spintronics, enabling efficient energy transport in magnetic materials.
Researchers at the University of Houston have reported record thermoelectric performance from a rare bismuth-based Zintl compound. The material boasts high efficiency, converting heat to electricity with an impressive figure of merit value.
Researchers found that electron diffusivity plays a crucial role in harnessing thermoelectric power from waste heat. The study sheds light on the fundamental physical process behind this phenomenon.
Researchers at NREL have developed a thermoelectric power generator using carbon nanotubes, enabling the capture and use of waste heat. The material's unique properties allow it to retain high thermopower while maintaining low thermal conductivity.
A team of international researchers has discovered a way to convert waste heat into electrical energy using magnetic spin waves. By exploiting the spin Seebeck effect, they were able to demonstrate that thermal energy can be converted into electrical energy in an adjacent metallic layer.
A new study finds that climate change and changing water resources could reduce global electricity production capacity by over 60% by 2040-2069. However, adaptation measures such as increasing power plant efficiency and using alternative cooling systems can mitigate this decline.
Researchers at PTB have successfully measured the thermoelectric properties of a single magnetic domain wall, a breakthrough that opens up new possibilities in spin caloritronics. The study reveals that the presence or absence of the domain wall leads to a measurable change in the thermoelectric voltage generated by the wire.
Scientists found thermally excited magnetic waves generate electricity in insulators with thin metallic layers. This breakthrough explains the Spin Seebeck effect, enabling heat recovery and conversion into electrical energy.
A team of engineers at the University of California, San Diego, has developed a smart fabric that can regulate body temperature using adaptive thermoelectric technology. The smart fabric aims to cut energy use in buildings and homes by at least 15%, reducing heating and air conditioning bills.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have made the first measurements of thermoelectric behavior in a nanoporous metal-organic framework (MOF), a discovery that could lead to more efficient cooling and energy harvesting applications. The material, known as TCNQ@MOF, exhibits high Seebeck coefficient and low thermal conductivity.
Scientists have made a significant discovery in thermoelectric effects, which are crucial for nanoscale energy harvesting. Using quantum dots, researchers found that the actual performance of systems is less optimistic than predicted calculations, highlighting the importance of optimizing structures at the nanoscale.
Researchers have created a novel and highly efficient thermoelectric alloy, nearly doubling industry standard efficiency. The new material achieves significant temperature changes, enabling potential applications in electrical vehicles and personal electronic devices.
The XPD beamline at NSLS-II achieved its first scientific commissioning experiment, yielding valuable information about ruthenium diselenide's thermoelectric properties. The study revealed the relationship between atomic structure and thermopower, shedding light on why RuSe2 has a high thermopower but low electrical conductivity.
Researchers developed a new way to calculate the electrical properties of individual components in composite materials, which could improve the energy efficiency of medical refrigerators, air-conditioned car seats, and other thermoelectric applications. The technique uses effective medium theory and allows for the separation of phase p...
The University of Houston is building a one-of-a-kind piece of equipment to further research on superconductivity and thermoelectricity, aiming to make these technologies more commercially viable. The $1.8 million project will help find materials with higher transition temperatures and lower costs.
MIT researchers have developed a new theory that suggests refrigerators could use magnets as cooling agents by exploiting the thermoelectric effect of magnons. Theoretical calculations predict that magnons can carry heat from one end of a magnet to another, producing a cooling effect.
Researchers at the University of Miami discovered a metal named lithium purple-bronze (LiPB) with extraordinary thermoelectric properties, which may revolutionize power generation and refrigeration. The material produces a large voltage for a given temperature difference, making it suitable for converting waste heat into electric power.
Researchers developed a predictive theoretical model for heat flux in novel nanomaterials using atom-scale calculations. This could help optimize thermal budget of nanoelectronic devices and produce energy through thermoelectric effects.
Researchers have finally found a theoretical explanation for the differences in thermal conductivity between similar materials, which could lead to the discovery of new thermoelectric materials. The findings are reported in the journal Nature Communications and were partly supported by the U.S. Department of Energy.
KAIST researchers developed a flexible thermoelectric (TE) generator on glass fabric that produces electricity from human body heat, overcoming the limitations of existing TE generators. The new generator is extremely light, flexible, and compact, with a self-sustaining structure that eliminates thermal energy loss.
Researchers have developed a new technique using nanoscale pillars to radically improve thermoelectric materials, potentially leading to more efficient solar panels and power plants. By slowing down the flow of heat, these pillars can reduce thermal losses and increase electricity generation.
Researchers from Linköping University and five universities worldwide have proven that polymers can exhibit semiconductor-like properties. The discovery paves the way for a new field of research in organic electronics.
Researchers developed new thermoelectric materials with improved performance and reduced thermal conductivity, enabling more efficient conversion of waste heat into electricity. The study uses hybrid organic-inorganic compounds to achieve higher efficiency.
Clemson researchers developed a novel nanosizing method to tailor n-type bismuth telluride for high thermoelectric performance. The technique enables the creation of 'interfacial charged defects' that improve structural and thermoelectric efficiency over a wide temperature window.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a novel approach to study thermoelectric materials by simulating the behavior of complex systems using ultra-cold atoms. The 'thermoelectric material emulator' allows for precise comparison between theory and experiments, shedding light on fundamental processes underlying thermoelectricity.