3-D Printable Thermoelectric Ink Turns Car Exhaust Pipes Into Power Generators

A research team from Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) in Korea has researched a new approach to convert energy that was previously considered “waste” in almost every industrial or automotive setting into usable energy. Using 3-D printed designs, the team at UNIST designed high-performance thermoelectric generators made of lead (Pb) and tellurium (Te) in a study oriented toward recycling energy lost through the exhaust system of a conventional automobile and the chimney in an industrial setting but could potentially reach many more applications.