New sources of electricity

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Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Boston College was able to significantly improve the capacity of one of the materials directly transforming heat into electric current. The possibility of this turning was opened nearly two centuries ago. In 1821 between them to different temperatures in the chain will talk. At the physical phenomenon, named in honor of pioneering, founded effect widespread temperature sensors, thermocouples. It would seem, Zeebeka effect can be used to obtain electricity from direct heat. But this is not so simple because the efficiency of most termoelektrikov extremely small. But this possibility is very attractive, and therefore to improve the efficiency termoelektrikov work in many laboratories. Professor of Physics at Boston College Zhifeng Ren [Zhifeng Ren] and his colleagues from MIT have succeeded with the help of nanotechnology. They have long been known as the basis of a semiconductor termoelektrik, alloy of bismuth, antimony and tellurium. Experimenters first smololi in his tiny dust particles consisting of a size of about 20 nanometers. Then they made of nano hard drives and bars, subjecting its compression at high temperatures. In the end, they received material with far more homogeneous crystal structure than the original alloy, which has proved very effective termoelektrikom. Measurements showed that he converts heat into electricity by at least 40% better alloy predecessor. This is due to the fact that thermal stimulation moved to the correct crystal lattice with fewer losses than in a grid with structural defects. The new thermoelectric material devoted to the message that appeared on 20 March at the network journal Science Express.