In the search for solutions to ever-worsening environmental problems, such as the depletion of fossil fuels and climate change, many have turned to the potential of thermoelectric materials to generate power. These materials exhibit what is known as the thermoelectric effect, which creates a voltage difference when there is a temperature gradient between the material’s sides. This phenomenon can be exploited to produce electricity using the enormous amount of waste heat that human activity generates, such as that from automobiles and thermal power plants, thereby providing an eco-friendly alternative to satisfy our energy needs.
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Source: Phys.org