Exploring a novel way to convert heat to electricity

https://phys.org/news/2023-05-exploring-electricity.html

"depositing 100k's microscopic columns  gallium nitride atop silicon wafer which are removed from wafer's underside, thin sheet remains... interaction between pillars and silicon sheet transport silicon heat enabling convert to electric... wrapped around steam or exhaust pipes... interaction between phonons slow traveling phonons reducing thermal conductivity... phonon interaction accomplishes this feat while leaving the electrical conductivity of the silicon sheet unchanged"