Thermoelectricity with nanofluidic systems?

Li's work on the thermoelectric response of nanofluidic systems has been accepted in Physical Review Letters, and selected as a reading suggestion by the Editors.

Waste heat harvesting is a major challenge for decades to come. A commonly contemplated solution uses solid thermoelectric materials, which convert a temperature difference into electricity. The best performing materials are however rare, expensive and often toxic. The authors explored the alternative possibility of using nanofluidic channels confining salt water, using atomistic simulations. On the model systems studied, the performances can be comparable to those of the best thermoelectric materials. The simulations also provide a better understanding of thermoelectricity in confined liquids – showing in particular the key role of the strong thermos-osmotic response of water – which will guide the search for concrete systems with high performance.