Next-Gen Energy Harvesting: Thermoelectric Permanent Magnet Breaks Power Density Records

Thermoelectric permanent magnet energy conversion

In a major leap for thermoelectric energy harvesting, researchers from the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), in collaboration with the University of Tokyo and Nagoya University, have developed a novel "thermoelectric permanent magnet" capable of achieving a world-record power density of 56.7 mW/cm² through transverse thermoelectric conversion at room temperature.

This breakthrough, recently published in Energy & Environmental Science, represents the highest power density ever recorded among transverse thermoelectric modules—surpassing even some commercial longitudinal Seebeck-based devices. The innovation lies in a smartly engineered, artificially tilted multilayer structure combining SmCo5-type magnets with the thermoelectric compound Bi0.2Sb1.8Te3.

Why Transverse Thermoelectricity Matters

Traditional thermoelectric modules use the longitudinal Seebeck effect, generating electricity in the same direction as the heat flow. While effective, this setup typically requires complex circuitry to isolate charge and thermal paths. The transverse thermoelectric effect, in contrast, generates a current perpendicular to the heat flow, simplifying device design considerably.

The drawback? Most transverse thermoelectric materials have historically shown very low efficiency—until now. By optimizing the interface resistivities in their layered composite and cutting it at a precise angle, the researchers achieved a figure of merit (zT) of 0.2 at room temperature, a 100-fold improvement over previous records for the anomalous Nernst effect.

Magnet + Heat = Power

The module, which physically resembles a powerful magnet, can attach itself to hot magnetic surfaces without additional mounting. In practice, this makes it ideal for scavenging waste heat from motors, transformers, or other magnetic equipment—enabling ubiquitous and passive energy harvesting wherever magnets and heat coexist.

By achieving performance comparable to established Seebeck devices with a simpler layout and multifunctional design, the thermoelectric magnet sets the stage for a new era of self-powered sensors and thermal management solutions.

The Road Ahead

The NIMS team now plans to enhance both the power output and cooling potential of this hybrid magnet-thermoelectric material. Beyond energy harvesting, future applications could include localized cooling systems and IoT sensor nodes operating without batteries or complex wiring.

This breakthrough is not only a milestone in materials innovation but also a practical demonstration of how magnetic and thermoelectric physics can converge into real-world, scalable solutions.

Read the original article here: https://techxplore.com/news/2025-06-thermoelectric-permanent-magnet-power-density.html

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