Heat-to-electricity conversion technology is created

The Ohio State University has developed a unique way to convert heat into electricity. And the energy source can be almost anything from car exhaust to heat produced by industrial plants.

Efficient use of resources has always been a topical issue. It seems that mankind has recently found an additional source of electrical energy, as there are proposals to use heat for the purpose. By implementing this technology, we will be able not only to optimize production processes, but also to protect the environment.

The new method is based on electromagnetism. For example, when one side of a magnet is heated, the other one remains cold; the accumulated potential creates energy that can be converted into electric current. The only issue is that the magnet loses its properties in the process and becomes un-reusable.

To solve the issue, scientists have proposed to use paramagnetics - substances that do not lose their "magnetic potential" and are resistant to heat, but they are extremely weak. So much so, that it was previously thought that they could not be used as an energy source. However, by combining paramagnetics with semiconductors, the researchers were able to generate energy and accumulate it in a battery, thus making production more efficient. There are proposals to use the innovation at enterprises generating a lot of heat.