Thermoelectrics is the study of the conversion of temperature differences into electricity, or the generation of temperature differences by applying an electric current.
Thermoelectric materials work by utilizing the Seebeck effect, which is the generation of a voltage when there is a temperature difference between two different materials. This voltage can then be used to power devices.
Thermoelectric materials have a wide range of applications, including power generation in spacecraft, waste heat recovery in industrial processes, and cooling in electronic devices.
The most commonly used thermoelectric materials include bismuth telluride, lead telluride, and silicon germanium. These materials have a high thermoelectric figure of merit, which measures their efficiency in converting heat to electricity.
Current research in thermoelectrics is focused on finding new and more efficient materials, as well as improving the manufacturing process to make thermoelectric devices more cost-effective. There is also research being done on using thermoelectric materials for renewable energy applications, such as converting waste heat from geothermal sources into electricity.