Seebeck Effect

The Seebeck Effect occurs when a temperature difference between two different conductive materials causes an electric voltage to develop across them. When one junction is heated and the other kept cooler, charge carriers in the materials (like electrons) move from the hot side to the cold side, creating an electric potential. This principle underpins thermoelectric generators, which convert heat directly into electricity, and is used in applications like power generation from waste heat and temperature sensing. In essence, it’s a way that heat energy can be transformed into usable electrical energy through material interactions.