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Thermoelectric Effect Observed Between Liquid Metals
Context:
A team of physicists at Sorbonne Université in France have successfully observed a thermoelectric effect between two liquid materials for the first time.
More on News:
A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences involved physicists combining two types of liquid metals at room temperature and subjecting them to a heat gradient.
Thermoelectric Effect
It is a fundamental physics principle involving thermal energy conversion into electrical energy, primarily observed in solid-state systems, but challenging to observe in liquid systems due to microscale temperature gradients.
Key Highlights:
- Experimental Setup:
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- Cylindrical Structure: Consists of a larger outer cylinder and a smaller inner cylinder.
- Liquids Used: Liquid mercury in the outer cylinder and liquid gallium floating on top.
- Temperature Gradient: The outer walls of the outer cylinder are cooled; the inner cylinder walls are heated.
- Measurement: A wire was inserted into the outer cylinder at the interface of the two liquids, connected to an electricity measuring device.
- Findings:
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- Thermoelectric Effect: Observed at the interface between liquid mercury and liquid gallium.
- Turbulence: Current ran in loops from hot to cold parts of the cylinder.
- Multiple Loops: Detected in the interface.
- Inconsistent Electricity Generation: Some areas in the interface did not generate electricity, unlike in solid interfaces.
- Implications: Potential impact on new kinds of battery development.
- This effect could be crucial in various industrial and astrophysical systems, including liquid-metal batteries and Jupiter’s magnetic field.
- The experiment’s significant current density indicates the potential for efficient waste heat conversion into electricity.
