They discover a new source of “infinite” energy: it was before our eyes

The phrase “Take it off, you’re keeping me warm” from many couples on summer nights around the world can become energy source. Yes, no joke. People lose a lot residual heat as a result of the chemical reactions that make up our metabolism. This usually dissipates into the atmosphere or causes discomfort to the person sleeping with you during the hottest months. It is not used. However, a group of scientists from University of Limerickin Ireland has developed a prototype device that will use this heat to get electricity.

In fact, the goal is not only to take advantage of the heat that our body produces. There are many everyday reactions that produce residual heat that is never used. In some cases it is very hot. For example, cars and factory cars They produce a lot of energy in the form of heat, which is never used.

The scientists behind the recent study, which is also described in Talk They were looking for a way to take advantage of this heat. This is not something new. It has long been known that heat can be used as an energy source to generate electricity. However, commonly used materials are hazardous and pollute the environment. They, on the other hand, managed to do it by wasting paper industrycompletely environmentally friendly.

A curious energy source based on the thermoelectric effect

The use of waste heat as an energy source is based on the thermoelectric effect. We know that electricity consists of electron flow. They are usually formed as a result of the reaction redox. There is an element that is oxidized, loses electrons, which go to the element that is reduced (gains them). This is what happens in batteries. However, this flow of electrons can be obtained in other ways. For example, due to temperature differences as electrons move from the hotter end to the colder end.

There are thermoelectric materials that, when heated to different temperatures, can contribute to this effect. The problem is that they materials hazardous to health and/or pollutantssuch as mercury, cadmium or lead. This is why they have not been tested for widespread use. However, the authors of the new study did not give up. They based their research on the search for cleaner and safer thermoelectric materials. And finally they found one that, like our residual heat, was throw away.

Paper industry waste to use its own waste heat

By testing different materials, these scientists saw that wood It can also function as a thermoelectric material. It is certainly not dangerous and does not pollute the environment, but its future use on a large scale may contribute to deforestation. That made it a bad idea. But what if the substances contained in wood that have this effect could be obtained from waste from the paper industry?

By analyzing some of these wastes, they discovered that a specific byproduct, lignin, it worked great.

Specifically, they used a lignin membrane immersed in a saline solution. This solution acts, as in batteries, as a bridge for the passage of electrons. Very high temperatures were not required. That was enough 200°C. Most common waste heat sources are below this temperature, so they can be used as an energy source.

The next challenge is to find an efficient way to store this energy. If they succeed, perhaps in the future that heat that so worries those around them will be able to serve make smart watch work for an indefinite period. At least let it be useful for something.