- Module testing used a 243-kelvin gradient.
What changed
A research team reports that adding silver to sodium-doped tin sulfide changes its crystal structure and improves electrical transport. The optimized crystal reached a thermoelectric figure of merit of about 1.06 at 300 kelvin. A single-leg module separately achieved approximately 3.3% conversion efficiency under a 243-kelvin temperature difference.
Why it matters
Our assessment is that the work identifies a material modification worth testing in more complete heat-to-electricity devices. Separating crystal measurements from module conditions is essential: the reported efficiency required a substantial temperature difference, even though room-temperature material performance features prominently in the paper.
What remains unproven
The accepted paper does not demonstrate a commercial generator, manufacturing economics or long-term durability. Its single-leg result cannot establish the performance of a complete system operating on small ambient temperature differences.
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Recorded source-check date: 15 Sep 2026. A link is not, by itself, evidence that every claim has been independently verified.
Changes & version history
Version 3 · 15 Sep 2026
Scheduled release of checksum-bound AI-assisted editorial review
Version 2 · 15 Sep 2026
Checksum-bound editorial review scheduled for release
Version 1 · 15 Sep 2026
Source-linked private review edition