How can thermoelectric generators be made more efficient?
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Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) are a promising new way to produce electric energy directly from heat.
But there is one
remaining problem: the low efficiency.
Today, TEGs can have efficiencies of up to 10%.
The biggest challenge here is that we want the TEGs to have high electrical
conductivity but low thermal conductivity.
As you can see in the screenshot of the NakedScientists' video on TEGs, the used
materials conduct charge carriers like electrons - which is what we need to get an electrical voltage at the ends of the
material.
But the materials also conduct heat - and that's not so good, because this thermal conductivity leads to a decrease
of the temperature difference between the two ends and therefore decreases the efficiency of the TEG.
IMG
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