Revolutionary Device Enhances Energy Harvesting through Rule-Breaking Techniques

Researchers at Caltech have developed a device that breaks Kirchhoff's law of thermal radiation, which states that absorptive and emissive efficiencies are equal. By decoupling the absorptive and emissive properties of a material, the device could lead to more efficient energy harvesting systems and advancements in camouflage technology. The device combines a material with a strong magnetic-field response and a patterned structure to enhance absorption and emission in infrared wavelengths. This breakthrough could have significant implications for sustainable energy technologies.