It seems to me that this is the area lacking most behind in development. The potential is huge. Both Solar PV's and Heat conversion could be used together to increase output and counter the lack of sunlight. Heat can occur with or without sunlight. As far as my understanding goes no one has developed a viable and effecient way to take advantage of it. There must be and effective way according to the laws of physics and energy conversions that occur naturally in nature.
I know just from my minor experiments growing up that certain chemicals mixed together can generate enormous amounts of heat. The trick would be finding ones that don't degenerate. Heat also excites electrons and causes different elements to change and move. There has to be a way other than with steam, gasoline explosions and moving parts to take advantage of this molecular reaction and convert it to electricity. Take the lithium-ion battery for example. It stores energy and can be recharged based soley on chemical reactions and the introduction of an external stimulant.
What about EM, gravity & thermocouples? Why can't the three forces be used together? When traditional ferrous magnets are put in a spin they stabilize enough to maintain a stationary position, active electronic stabilization This counters Earnshaw's theorem. When they are not spinning they are extremely sensitive to external conditions. Even static electricity throws them off balance. If we had a room temperature superconductor that wouldn't require super cooling this would be a lot easier, permanent and cost effective, considering the effect they have with diamagentics.
If multiple microscopic thermocouple threads were bound together into a cable and encapsulated in the correct chemical, I would think it would increase the charge that could be generated. Similar to how the effect of cupris oxide on copper effects the amount of photons captured and converted into electricity in the appropriate liquid, i.e saltwater, vinegar.
Now based on the sensitivity of ferrous magnets, and heat generated in a variety of ways, i.e. fresnal lens to magnify and concentrate sunlight onto the thermocouple twist even with only a minimal charge which would still increase based on the amount of heat, wouldn't it be enough to affect the N,S magnetic attraction and reppeling of ferrous magnets, acting like an electromagnet. Combine that with gravity and with no prior movement, or other external electrical current a constant spin should be viable. That's the problem with modern motors and generators they typically require an external power source like a battery or electricity from an outlet. The electro-magnetic force causes the N,S, poles to attract and repel in turn creating the spin wich turns whatever it's hooked up to. I don't see why this couldn't be done on a nano-molecular level or any other level for that matter with multiple spinning magnetic discs all tied together. Anyone tried or trying any of this?
What do you think?