termoelektriseen

Termoelectricity is a phenomenon where a temperature difference between two dissimilar electrical conductors or semiconductors produces an electric voltage across the junction. This effect is known as the Seebeck effect, named after Thomas Johann Seebeck, who discovered it in 1821. The reverse process, where an electric current flowing through a conductor or semiconductor generates a temperature difference, is called the Peltier effect, named after Jean Charles Athanase Peltier, who discovered it in 1834.

The efficiency of thermoelectric devices is typically measured by the figure of merit, ZT, which is a dimensionless quantity that combines the electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and Seebeck coefficient of the material. A higher ZT value indicates better thermoelectric performance.

Thermoelectric materials can be classified into two categories: n-type (electron-dominated) and p-type (hole-dominated). The most common thermoelectric materials are bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) and its alloys, which are used in commercial thermoelectric coolers and generators. Other materials, such as skutterudites, clathrates, and half-Heusler compounds, are also being researched for their potential to improve thermoelectric efficiency.

Thermoelectricity has various applications, including power generation from waste heat, cooling of electronic devices, and refrigeration. However, the low efficiency of current thermoelectric materials limits their widespread use. Research is ongoing to develop new materials and improve the performance of existing ones to make thermoelectricity a more viable and efficient energy conversion technology.