Posted on 09/19/2012 2:29:53 PM PDT by neverdem
Thermoelectrics are not, however, efficient enough to be used everywhere. Existing technologies can turn only 5–7% of heat energy into electricity, much less than the conversion efficiency of technologies such as solar panels.'Tantalizing' hints of room-temperature superconductivity Doped graphite may superconduct at more than 100 ºC.--snip--
The final step was to stop heat flow over longer scales. To do this, the team created a fractured version of their pretty thermoelectric crystal. The fracturing did the trick: the cracks allowed electrons to move but reflected heat vibrations in the crystal. The material had a conversion efficiency of about 15% — double that of normal PbTe thermoelectrics.
Medical study links BPA, kids’ obesity
Whitehead scientists bring new efficiency to stem cell reprogramming
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Interesting, thanks for excerpting that neverdem.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2933503/posts?page=21#21
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