Researchers at MIT and Stanford University have now found a new way to convert waste heat into electricity, especially when the temperature difference is small (100o C), and the technology uses a wide range of materials that can be used in industry. A large amount of waste heat is recovered during the production process or when the power station generates electricity.

According to EPA statistics of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, one-third of US industrial energy consumption is waste heat. If it can be recycled, even a small part can greatly reduce energy loss. Scientists try to use superheated electrical materials, but the solution is too costly due to the need to use rare materials; and when waste heat is only tens of degrees above ambient temperature, the conversion efficiency of using thermoelectric materials is only 0.5%.

The new method developed by researchers at MIT and Stanford University led by Prof. Chen Gang took advantage of the thermogalvanic effect. The battery can be charged effectively under a certain conversion relationship of different temperatures and voltages. Scientists have established a system that uses waste heat to increase the temperature of the battery. Due to the thermoelectric temperature difference, the battery can be charged at a lower voltage. The battery is then allowed to cool, allowing the battery to discharge into the grid at higher voltages at lower temperatures. This energy difference can be effectively collected from waste heat.

The concept of generating electricity using the thermoelectric temperature difference effect was first proposed in the 1950s. In this system, Chen and his colleagues have achieved very high conversion efficiencies at lower temperature differences (5.7% at a temperature difference of 50°C). The technology uses a wide range of materials, such as the very common copper. And it can operate on a large scale, and the system is very easy to manufacture for the current battery industry's production chain.

Current researchers still need to overcome some of the challenges, including lower energy density compared to thermoelectric materials: 1.2 W/kg. Charge and discharge cycles last up to one hour, and more tests to ensure an effective service life.

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