Solid state thermal-to-electrical energy converters are energy harvesters capable of transforming heat directly into electricity. These thermoelectric (TE) energy generators use the Seebeck effect to generate energy using temperature differences. They contain no moving parts and are therefore inherently robust and reliable.
Due to their minimal mechanical complexity, TE energy generators have emerged in recent years as a method of energy generation for small-scale electronics and autonomous systems. However, they have faced practical limitations, most notably the relatively low energy conversion efficiency in conventional applications that strictly utilize the Seebeck effect.
Dr. Sarah J. Watzman and her team have invented a novel TE generator design with vastly more efficient energy conversion. They have figured out how to increase efficiency by using the Nernst Effect in conjunction with the Seebeck Effect. The resulting system produces both longitudinal and transverse magneto-thermoelectric effects simultaneously, offering a thermoelectric figure of merit (zT) approximately four times greater than either that of the Seebeck or Nernst Effect independently.