en.Wedoany.com Reported - Researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) in South Korea have developed a technology that significantly improves thermoelectric conversion efficiency without using rare and expensive materials. The core of this technology lies in replacing traditional solid silicon nanowires with hollow silicon nanotubes, where the hollow structure more effectively retains heat.

Experimental results show that compared to solid structures, the thermal conductivity of hollow silicon nanotubes is reduced by 70%. Even with the same surface area, the reduction in thermal conductivity reaches approximately 33%.

The key to this performance improvement lies in the phonon localization effect. Phonons are quasiparticles responsible for transferring heat in solids. In the hollow nanotube structure, part of the thermal energy is "locked" inside the structure, significantly slowing its dissipation. Previously, it was believed that achieving this effect at room temperature in simple structures was difficult, but the researchers successfully realized it at room temperature through a relatively simple design.

The main advantage of this technology is the use of ordinary silicon instead of rare elements such as bismuth and tellurium, which are traditionally used in thermoelectric systems but are costly and have limited supply. The study authors believe that the compatibility of this technology with existing chip manufacturing processes could accelerate the adoption of such solutions and drive the development of devices that convert "waste" heat into useful electrical energy. As energy consumption continues to grow in areas such as artificial intelligence data centers, electric vehicles, and industrial production, this technology may have significant application demand.

This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com