Friday 21 March 2025
Scientists have been fascinated by thermoelectric materials for decades, as they have the ability to convert heat into electrical energy and vice versa. These materials are crucial in a world where we’re constantly seeking new ways to harness renewable energy sources. Recently, researchers have made significant progress in understanding the behavior of thermoelectric materials at the atomic level.
Thermoelectric materials are essentially semiconductors that can generate electricity when heated or cooled. The key to their functionality lies in their ability to manipulate the flow of electrons within the material. When a thermoelectric material is exposed to heat, its atoms vibrate more rapidly, increasing the likelihood of electrons colliding and flowing through the material. This process creates an electric current.
The Pisarenko formula has been a cornerstone of understanding thermoelectric materials for many years. It describes the relationship between the thermopower – the ability of a material to generate electricity when heated or cooled – and its electrical conductivity. However, this formula was previously thought to be only applicable to non-degenerate semiconductors, meaning those with a limited number of charge carriers.
Researchers have now demonstrated that the Pisarenko formula is actually more widely applicable than initially thought. They’ve shown that it accurately predicts the thermopower and electrical conductivity of even partially degenerate semiconductors – materials that have a higher concentration of charge carriers.
This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of new thermoelectric materials. By understanding the behavior of these materials at the atomic level, scientists can design more efficient thermoelectric devices. These devices could potentially be used to harness waste heat from power plants or vehicles, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.
The researchers achieved their findings by studying the thermoelectric properties of a specific material called bismuth copper selenide oxide. They used advanced computational methods to simulate the behavior of this material’s atoms at different temperatures, allowing them to accurately predict its thermopower and electrical conductivity.
The results were impressive. The Pisarenko formula accurately predicted the thermopower and electrical conductivity of the material across a wide range of temperatures, even when it was partially degenerate. This suggests that the formula is more widely applicable than previously thought, opening up new possibilities for the development of high-performance thermoelectric materials.
In addition to its practical applications, this research has also shed light on the fundamental physics underlying thermoelectric behavior.
Cite this article: “Unlocking the Secrets of Thermoelectric Materials”, The Science Archive, 2025.
Thermoelectricity, Semiconductors, Pisarenko Formula, Thermal Conductivity, Electrical Conductivity, Thermopower, Degenerate Semiconductors, Atomic Level, Computational Methods, Bismuth Copper Selenide Oxide.
Reference: Andrei Novitskii, Takao Mori, “Pisarenko’s Formula for the Thermopower” (2025).
