Thermoelectricity

Scientists at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology have created a thermoelectric coating that can be directly painted onto almost any surface to capture waste heat and turn it directly into electricity.

A silicon valley startup wants you to have one less charger in your life thanks to its exercise-tracking smartwatch design that allows a wearable device to be powered via the user's own body heat.

In the developing world, many cell phone users have to walk long distances in order to use paid charging stations. JikoPower, however, aims to bring the power to the people's cooking fires, with its Spark thermoelectric generator.

Kinetic energy from movement has been harnessed to charge batteries, and thermoelectric generators have powered wearable devices. Now researchers at NCSU have created a new wearable prototype that's lightweight, comfortable and much more efficient than existing TEGs.

If you've ever switched on a flashlight only to experience a flood of frustrated disappointment, you might appreciate owning an "eternal flashlight." Lumen is designed to be powered by body heat, never needing batteries.​

Sunlight can be used to generate electricity either through a photovoltaic effect, or by harnessing the heat produced by the light. There are already hybrid systems that combine both, but scientists have now developed a type of hybrid setup that they claim works better.

Cooking fires are a major source of health problems for millions of people in developing nations, who use them on a daily basis. In an effort to address the problem, RTI International has developed a cook stove that burns cleaner … and that powers gadgets.

One of the biggest hurdles that electric cars face in going mainstream is range anxiety. To help combat this, Goodyear came up with its BHO3 concept tire, which generates electricity by converting heat and motion into current as the tire rolls – and even when it's standing still.

Researchers at KAIST have developed a lightweight, flexible and high-efficiency thermoelectric generator that can harness your body heat to generate a small amount of electricity. The device could be used to extend the battery life of low-power wearable devices.

Could it one day be possible to generate electricity from the loss of heat from Earth to outer space? A group of Harvard engineers believe so, and have theorized something of a reverse photovoltaic cell to do just this.

We're constantly seeing inventors attempt to create new and interesting ways to charge our cell phones. VOTO is one product we've seen that uses fire to charge our smart devices, and now a new take on the idea is hitting the scene – FlameStower.

Ann Makosinski, a 15 year old high school student from Canada, has designed and built a flashlight powered purely by body heat.