Thermopower

A revolutionary new process for generating electricity exploits the thermal and electrical conductivity of carbon nanotubes to produce large bursts of power quickly. The idea started with an experiment in which a piece of yarn made of nanotubes was coated with TNT and lit with a laser. Although it was highly inefficient, it was capable of producing large amounts of power, and engineers are now looking at ways to improve efficiency for broader applications.

Rather than using heat to expand gases, which drive a turbine or piston, the new generator creates electricity more directly by using a phenomenon called a thermopower wave. As the fuel burns, the exothermic (heat-producing) wave pushes electrons along the length of the nanotubes, creating a current. And since the nanotubes are not destroyed in the process, they can be used over and over again simply by replenishing the fuel.

The process is especially well-suited for applications requiring short bursts of power. But improvements in efficiency combined with long shelf-life may pave the way for the technology to be used to develop longer-lasting batteries. They’ve already determined, for example, that using flat graphene sheets in place of nanotubes not only improves performance but enables the energy to be more precisely directed.