We could soon be on the verge of charging our gadgets with the waste heat of coffee mugs which traditionally are non-conductive. According to a research led by Richard Robinson (assistant professor of materials science and engineering) a natural and inexpensive method to synthesize oxide crystal sheets (nanometer thick) which has properties for alternative energy applications. In the research 20 millimeter thick sodium cobalt oxide crystals were extracted using a method that combines sol-gel synthesis with electric filed-inducted kinetic de-mixing method. Through this method tens of thousands of nanosheets self-assembled into a pellet.
This material as amazing properties like high thermoelectric power, high electrical conductivity, superconductivity and ability to behave like a cathode material in sodium ion batteries. Now this can be used in things like coffee mugs to convert waste heat into power or in creation of more efficient alternative energy thermoelectric materials. The nanosheet can be folded up to 180 degrees and is ultra-cheap to produce which all goes well for commercial production of the material.
Via: RDMag
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