Researchers at Bengaluru’s Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) have crafted an innovative material capable of converting waste heat into usable electrical energy. Led by Prof. Kanishka Biswas and PhD scholar Vaishali Taneja from the New Chemistry Unit, the team synthesized ferecrystals with remarkable thermoelectric properties.
Thermoelectricity is the generation of voltage from heat exposure. Prof. Biswas noted that while metals conduct both heat and electricity efficiently, and materials like glass are poor conductors of both, developing a substance that allows electricity to flow while obstructing heat posed a significant challenge. The term “ferecrystal,” derived from the Latin word fere meaning “almost,” refers to their near-crystalline structure.
These ferecrystals consist of slightly rotated atomic layers, introducing rotational irregularities. Biswas compared their structure to a stack of cards, where each card is slightly misaligned, disrupting heat flow and enhancing thermoelectric efficiency.
This material could revolutionize energy recovery in industries such as steel production, chemical processing, and petroleum refining, where nearly 60% of energy is wasted as heat. In remote locations, thermoelectric devices utilizing ferecrystals could generate power from heat sources like wood stoves, providing electricity for basic needs.
To validate their findings, the JNCASR team collaborated with Prof. N. Ravishankar at IISc Bengaluru, whose microscopy analysis confirmed the ferecrystals’ twisted atomic structure. Contributions also came from Subarna Das, Sushmita Chandra, Prabir Dutta, and Naveen Goyal.
This breakthrough holds immense potential for sustainable energy solutions.
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