Turning up the heat: Holey metamaterials enhance thermal energy harvesting
Monday, October 19, 2015 - 18:30
in Physics & Chemistry
It's estimated that the U.S. fails to use more than half of the energy it generates -- mostly because it escapes as waste heat. Scientists are now developing a new type of system to efficiently capture some of that lost heat. They have designed a surface that enhances low frequency thermal radiation, which is easier than higher frequencies to "harvest" directly out of the air and turn into usable DC electricity.