Eco-Energy Possible Thanks to Thermoelectric Effects Published March 4, 2010 By Maria Callier Office of Scientific Research ARLINGTON, Virginia -- Air Force Research Laboratory and the National Science Foundation are together funding research that may yield the first-ever military turbine aircraft able to produce its own eco-electricity via environmentally friendly and inexpensive thermoelectric nanotechnology. Dr. Daryoosh Vashaee and his Oklahoma State University-based research cohort are investigating the use of thermoelectric cells in capturing waste heat (generated from aircraft exhaust) for conversion into viable electrical power. "Thermo" electricity is electricity produced by--and dependent upon--the interaction of heat with specific electrical conditions existing in one or more metals. Historically inefficient to produce, thermoelectricity has not seen extensive use beyond space and cooling applications. The work of these scientists, however, could realistically shift this paradigm, and do so in a way that no other ecologically sound energy source has--namely, with zero toxic emissions. Whereas the infrared (IR) technology currently used by the Air Force relies on liquid nitrogen as a coolant, thermoelectric methods require no such potentially hazardous substance and are meanwhile economical. Further, the new thermoelectric sensors provide a means for producing high-performance, structurally simple, small IR detectors ideally suited for military missions. The next step for these AFRL/NSF-sponsored researchers will involve development of the thermoelectric modules that will ultimately serve as power generation sources for AF aircraft and industrial (e.g., solar, thermal, and waste heat recovery) applications alike.