Every year, billions of kilowatt-hours of industrial waste heat are lost unused worldwide.
This patent by the Leibniz Institute IFW Dresden and the Fraunhofer Society demonstrates how that loss can be turned into gain:
Instead of relying on expensive and critical raw materials, the technology uses saw slurries and wafer scraps from semiconductor and solar production.
Through innovative processes such as mechanical alloying and spark-plasma sintering, a robust, high-performance material is created with a thermoelectric figure of merit up to 0.3 at 800 °C — ideal for high-temperature applications.
🔹 60 % lower material costs compared to conventional semiconductors
🔹 CO₂ reduction through recovery of waste heat energy
🔹 Applications: Automotive, industrial plants, energy and environmental technology
🔹 SDG contribution: Clean Energy (35 %), Sustainable Industry (25 %), Circular Economy (20 %)
This innovation combines circular economy principles and energy efficiency — a strategic puzzle piece for the sustainable transformation of industry.
R+D- and License partners wanted — for applications in vehicles, production facilities, and energy infrastructure.
Key Benefits of the Patent (DE 10 2018 200 483 B3):
Cost Efficiency: Utilization of industrial silicon waste materials eliminates expensive purification steps; up to 60% lower material costs while maintaining comparable performance (zT = 0.3 at 800 °C).
Sustainability & Circular Economy: Industrial by-products such as silicon sludge or wafer fragments are transformed into high-value functional materials — turning waste into a resource and reducing disposal costs.
Process & Energy Efficiency: Simplified manufacturing without additional purification steps significantly reduces production time and energy consumption compared to conventional methods.
High Thermal Stability & Performance: Operable up to 800 °C; abrasive secondary phases reduce thermal conductivity, thereby enhancing overall thermoelectric performance.
Download Executive Summary and Technology Overview
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