| Abstract Scope |
Inorganic thermoelectrics have progressed in leaps and bounds in the recent years. This is largely driven by the advancements in both physical understanding coupled with structural properties. In terms of materials, zT as high as 3.0 and above have recently been reported in various literatures. However, the applications for thermoelectric remain in niche areas such as spacecrafts, wine cooler, and portable refrigerators. In recent years, thermoelectrics for IOT applications and wearable devices powered by body heat have been touted as promising avenues for applications. However, the power density of such devices are generally limited, not to mention the possible intermittency of waste heat availability. In this talk, I will discuss our latest unpublished work on water-evaporation driven thermoelectrics. Such conceptual advances can potentially broaden thermoelectric applications, and overcome intermittency issue in power generation. Such technology can also reliably and sustainably power wearables and small IOT devices. |