Part 1/8:
The Peltier Element: A Closer Look at Thermoelectric Cooling
When one looks at a Peltier element, it may appear to be just a mundane piece of material sandwiched between two plates. However, these unassuming devices house a series of semiconductor junctions that present a remarkable physical phenomenon—when a direct current (DC) voltage is applied across their terminals, one plate cools down, leading to what's known as thermoelectric cooling. This mechanism, discovered by Jean Charles Athanase Peltier in 1834, has been passionately explored in the centuries since, but despite advancements in manufacturing making them cheaper and more accessible (often available for under $3), the technology suffers from significant limitations.