Lynne Kiesling
OK, here’s another one for the “how cool is this?” file: a new material than can generate electricity from engine waste heat in hot environments, such as automobile engines:
The new material is called thallium-doped lead telluride.
The development could have a direct application for converting car engine exhaust heat into electricity, according to a statement from the university.
Using thermoelectric materials for generating power is not new. It is the group’s improvements on this type of alloy that are newsworthy.
“Hot environment” means 450-950 degrees F. This is pretty cool, and it makes me wonder if either this material or a similar one could be used in computers, laptops, and servers to reduce power use in computing, in server farms, etc.
HT: Engadget.