New alloy converts heat directly into electricity

By Ben Coxworth

 

 

The heat given off by electronics, automobile engines, factories and other sources is a potentially huge source of energy, and various technologies are being developed in order to capture that heat, and then convert it into electricity. Thanks to an alloy that was recently developed at the University of Minnesota, however, a step in that process could be saved - the new material is able to convert heat directly into electricity.

 

http://www.gizmag.com/alloy-converts-heat-into-electricity/19025/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=8b45e8a4ee-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email

The story is a tad misleading.

 

http://blogs.scienceforums.net/swansont/archives/9049

Thanks swansont, i am going to just quit posting news and read your stuff... no just kidding, it was misleading thanks for pointing it out.

News flash from 1821

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Johann_Seebeck

discovers thermoelectric effect.

Old alloys convert heat to electricity too.

News flash from 1821

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Johann_Seebeck

discovers thermoelectric effect.

Old alloys convert heat to electricity too.

 

In the journal article they claim that there is some superiority over Seebeck-effect devices, at least under some conditions. e.g. thermoelectrics working better with large temperature differences, but this will work with a small gradient, as long as it incorporates the phase change temperature.