Apr
22
A Great Improvement in Thermoelectric Material Found
April 22, 2014 | Leave a Comment
Northwestern University (NU) scientists have discovered a surprising material that is the best in the world at converting waste heat to useful electricity. An interdisciplinary team led by inorganic chemist Mercouri G. Kanatzidis found the crystal form of the chemical compound tin selenide conducts heat so poorly through its lattice structure that it is the […]
Sep
26
A Big Improvement in Thermoelectric Material
September 26, 2013 | 2 Comments
Scientists at the Vienna University of Technology (TU Vienna) can now produce a new and considerably more efficient class of thermoelectric material. The new molecular structure of the material has a very special layout in connection an astonishing new physical effect with tiny cages within the crystal structure enclosing cerium atoms. The Austrian team reports […]
May
6
A research team from the University of Michigan (UM) has found a way to nearly double the efficiency of a particular class of thermoelectric material. Thermoelectric materials can be used to turn waste heat into electricity or to provide refrigeration without any liquid coolants and the new class of them is made with organic semiconductors. […]
Nov
29
A New Cheap and Abundant Thermoelectric Material Found
November 29, 2012 | 2 Comments
A team of Michigan State University researchers have developed a new thermoelectric material based on natural minerals known as tetrahedrites, the most widespread sulfosalts on Earth. So where are these tetrahedrites? They’re found pretty much anywhere there is dirt, common ordinary dirt. The researchers, led by Donald Morelli, a professor of chemical engineering and materials […]
Sep
20
Heat To Electricity Breakthrough May be Commercial Scale
September 20, 2012 | 5 Comments
Northwestern University scientists collaborating with scientists and mechanical engineers at Northwestern and Michigan State University have developed a thermoelectric material that is the best in the world at converting waste heat to electricity resulting in the world record ZT of 2.2. Using a very environmentally stable material, the common semiconductor called lead telluride; the material […]