Nextreme has developed a miniature thin-film TEG (thermoelectric generator) that converts heat directly into electricity. Designed for waste-heat-conversion applications, the solid-state TEG delivers power-generation densities in excess of 3W/cm2, exceeding those achieved using bulk materials. It is optimised to provide power in a form factor that can be as much as 20 times thinner than bulk-material alternatives. Manufactured using semiconductor-fabrication techniques, the TEG is scalable, cost-effective, and can be used in a broad range of markets and applications, including automotive, aerospace, thermal batteries, medical implants and wireless-sensor networks. A 3.5x3.5mm unit has demonstrated output-power levels over 100mW at a ∆T of 70°K and over 300mW at a ∆T of 120°K. The TEG modules generate electricity via the Seebeck effect, where electricity is produced from a temperature differential applied across the thermoelectric material of the device, yielding a potential difference.
