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How to freeze heat conduction

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.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 21, 2019

UH Physicist Zhifeng Ren receives Humboldt Prize

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.

Breaking down the Wiedemann-Franz law

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.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 10, 2018

In a Weyl thermopile

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.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature Physics·DateJul 30, 2018

Turning up the heat on thermoelectrics

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...

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 25, 2018

Reusing waste energy with 2-D electron gas

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.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalAdvanced Science·DateNov 20, 2017

New approach boosts performance in thermoelectric materials

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.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 18, 2017

Nanostructures taste the rainbow

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.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateJun 28, 2017

Development of a new thermoelectric material for a sustainable society

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.

SourceToyohashi University of Technology (TUT)·JournalJournal of Alloys and Compounds·DateOct 24, 2016

Back to basics with thermoelectric power

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.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal Plus·DateApr 5, 2016

Hot stuff: Magnetic domain walls

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.

SourcePhysikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB)·JournalPhysical Review B·DateOct 15, 2015

Sandia researchers first to measure thermoelectric behavior by 'Tinkertoy' materials

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.

SourceDOE/Sandia National Laboratories·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateMay 20, 2015

Electricity generating nano-wizards

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.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateMay 18, 2015

Refrigerator magnets

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.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 28, 2014

Nanoscale heat flow predictions

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.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateMay 7, 2014

Solving a mystery of thermoelectrics

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.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 29, 2014