Thermoelectric paint creates sustainable electricity

The thermoelectric paint, developed by a group of South Korean scientists, converts heat into electricity much more efficiently than current materials.

Researchers from the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), and the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute created an efficient, energy converting paint. By utilizing the waste heat generated by a variety of sources, thermoelectric materials create sustainable electricity.

The problem with current thermoelectric devices is their angular shape. When placed on the frequently curved objects that generate waste heat, a considerable amount of resources is wasted. Thermoelectric paint, on the other hand, particularly when brushed on, produced a consistently high output of power. The authors of the study believe that large-scale application of the paint, on structures such buildings, cars and ships, could produce “huge” amounts electricity from what would otherwise be wasted heat. It even has a potential use in wearables.

Scientists working to find new ways to make sustainable energy more powerful have created a method for boiling water using daylight and bubble wrap,and printed photovoltaic ink onto a solar cell to make energy producing photographs. How could these new combinations be made for useful for cities or industries?