ZT (figure of merit)

ZT, or the figure of merit, is a measure of a material's efficiency for thermoelectric energy conversion—turning heat into electricity or vice versa. It combines properties like electrical conductivity, thermoelectric voltage (Seebeck coefficient), thermal conductivity, and temperature into a single value. A higher ZT indicates the material can convert heat more effectively, making it more suitable for applications like power generation or cooling. Think of ZT as a score that summarizes how well a material can harness waste heat or provide cooling, with higher scores representing better performance.