International.
A group of scientists from South Korea have developed a type of thermoelectric material applicable in the form of paint that has properties similar to liquids, and that can also be adapted to any geometry, because they can be applied on different surfaces as paints do.
Devices painted directly on curved surfaces produced a large output power of 4.0 mW cm-2. This approach opens the way to the design of materials and devices that can be easily transferred to other applications.
The thermoelectric (TE) effect has attracted considerable attention from various areas of research, as its ability to directly convert thermal and electrical energy offers a unique solution for sustainable power generation from waste heat sources.
Using this technique, electricity could easily be obtained through the application of thermoelectric paints on the exterior surfaces of buildings, roofs and cars.
By installing thermoelectric modules through the painting process, heat energy can be collected much more efficiently. Thermoelectric generation systems with this technology can be adapted to any installation that the user wants.
Source: NCYT.
