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Scientist's $40 microwave zaps better heat-to-power materials
Researchers think they've found a low-cost machine for producing materials that can convert waste heat into electricity: the microwave oven.
A team from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute last week published a paper in Nature Materials that describes an improved method for making thermoelectric materials. Members of the team have also created a startup company to commercialize the technology.
Thermoelectric devices are already in use today in portable coolers or to heat car seats, either by making electricity from heat or using electric power for cooling. Many scientists and engineers are trying to improve the efficiency of these devices and … Read more
