Innovative Method Converts Heat into Electricity.

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a new fabrication technique that involves depositing microscopic columns of gallium nitride atop a silicon wafer to boost the conversion of heat into electricity. The interaction between the pillars and the silicon sheet slows the transport of heat in the silicon, enabling more of the heat to convert to electric current. The silicon sheets could be wrapped around steam or exhaust pipes to convert heat emissions into electricity that could power nearby devices or be delivered to a power grid.