Thermoelectricity is the direct conversion of heat to electricity. It’s possible to capture the heat that a device generates and convert to power that can be used by the same device, or another device.
Researchers from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm report that they have developed a promising blend of thermoelectric coating for devices that generate heat.
When one end of a thermoelectric material is heated up, charge carriers (electrons and holes) move away from the hot end towards the cold end, resulting in an electric current.
Researcher Muhammet Toprak said his team focused on the design and development of hybrid thermoelectric materials for room-temperature operations, which integrates solid-state semiconductors with flexible materials such as polymers, to formulate inks.
The coating can be applied to any surface that dissipates heat, to generate electrical power. The research also makes headway in gaining better understanding...