Computational Model Paves the Way for More Efficient Energy Systems

Researchers make theoretical breakthrough in thermoelectric material to better harness waste heat for sustainable energy. Around 70% of the energy we use in everyday life is wasted in the form of heat, produced by engines, factories, and electrical devices. However, researchers from EPFL's School of Engineering have made a significant theoretical step forward that could boost sustainable energy generation. Computational work from the laboratory of Theory and Simulation of Materials ( THEOS ) has unraveled the fundamental theories behind one of the major technologies used to enhance the efficiency of thermoelectric conversion, paving the way for better material selection and faster, more cost-effective discovery processes. This breakthrough, published in the journal Physical Review Research , has the potential to contribute to a greener economy and a more sustainable future. Thermoelectric devices are a hot topic as they offer the promising potential to convert waste heat into sustainable electricity. When there is a temperature difference across a thermoelectric material, where one side is hotter than the other, it causes a flow of charges within the material, generating an electrical current that can be converted back into electrical energy.