thermoelectristä

Thermoelectricity is a phenomenon where a temperature difference across a material generates an electric voltage, or applying an electric voltage across a material generates a temperature difference. This effect is governed by the Seebeck effect, Peltier effect, and Thomson effect, which are fundamental to the field of thermoelectricity.

The Seebeck effect, discovered by Thomas Johann Seebeck in 1821, describes the generation of an electric voltage across a conductor when there is a temperature difference between its two ends. The Peltier effect, discovered by Jean Charles Athanase Peltier in 1834, describes the heating or cooling of a junction between two different conductors when an electric current is passed through it. The Thomson effect, discovered by William Thomson (Lord Kelvin) in 1854, describes the heating or cooling of a conductor when an electric current is passed through it in the presence of a temperature gradient.

The efficiency of thermoelectric materials 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 a more efficient thermoelectric material.

Thermoelectricity has a wide range of applications, including power generation, refrigeration, and temperature sensing. It is particularly useful in situations where traditional power sources are not practical or where waste heat can be converted into useful electrical energy. However, the efficiency of thermoelectric materials is currently limited, and ongoing research is focused on developing new materials and improving existing ones to enhance their performance.