Thermoelektrista

Thermoelektrista is a term derived from the Greek words "thermos" meaning heat and "elektron" meaning amber, which historically referred to electricity. It describes the phenomenon of generating an electric voltage across a material when there is a temperature difference across it, or conversely, generating a temperature difference when an electric current flows through it. This effect is known as the thermoelectric effect.

There are three primary thermoelectric effects: the Seebeck effect, the Peltier effect, and the Thomson effect. The Seebeck effect is the direct conversion of temperature differences into electric voltage. This is the principle behind thermoelectric generators (TEGs), which can be used to produce electricity from waste heat or from temperature gradients in nature. The Peltier effect is the converse: it involves the heating or cooling at the junction of two different conductors when an electric current is passed through them. This effect is utilized in thermoelectric coolers (TECs), commonly found in portable refrigerators and small-scale cooling devices. The Thomson effect, less commonly discussed in practical applications, refers to the absorption or release of heat by a conductor when an electric current flows through it in the presence of a temperature gradient along its length.

Thermoelectric materials are crucial for harnessing these effects. They are typically semiconductors, chosen for their ability to exhibit a significant thermoelectric response. The efficiency of thermoelectric devices is largely determined by the material's figure of merit, often denoted as ZT, which depends on the Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and temperature. While thermoelectric technology has applications in niche areas like space probes and waste heat recovery, its widespread adoption is somewhat limited by efficiency and cost compared to conventional energy conversion methods.