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Semiconductors are cool

Nature volume 413, pages 577–578 (2001)Cite this article

In the 1950s there were hopes that semiconductor thermocouples would replace mechanical refrigerators, just as semiconductor transistors supplanted vacuum tubes. New materials may bring that goal a bit closer.

Nothing so induces sleep as a lecture on thermodynamics. So we'll skip that part. But on page 597 of this issue1 Venkatasubramanian et al. describe thin-film thermocouple devices made from new materials that could make all refrigerators and power generators in the world obsolete. Sounds too good to be true? Well, perhaps better picnic coolers at least.

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Figure 1: From thermoelectric dreams to reality.

References

  1. Venkatasubramanian, R., Siivola, E., Colpitts, T. & O'Quinn, B. Nature 413, 597–602 (2001).

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  2. Dubois, L. H. 18th International Conference on Thermoelectrics 1–4 (IEEE, Piscataway, New Jersey, 1999); http://www.zts.com/darpa/dubois99

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  1. ZT Services, 2203 Johns Circle, Auburn, 36830-7113, Alabama, USA

    Cronin B. Vining

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  1. Cronin B. Vining
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Correspondence to Cronin B. Vining.

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Vining, C. Semiconductors are cool. Nature 413, 577–578 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35098159

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/35098159

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