Researchers in Japan have developed a new magnetic material that efficiently converts heat into electricity. The innovation, a thermoelectric permanent magnet, was created by scientists from the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), The University of Tokyo, and Nagoya University.
The material combines a samarium-cobalt magnet with a bismuth-antimony-tellurium thermoelectric compound. This layered structure generates electricity when exposed to heat, using a transverse thermoelectric effect.
The team achieved a record power density of 56.7 milliwatts per square centimeter. This advancement could lead to more efficient energy harvesting and thermal management in various applications.