Kagome metal’s quantum effects yield strong heat-to-power at zero field

Researchers have demonstrated a transverse thermopower of 18.4 μV K−1 in the kagome metal LuCo6Ge6 at room temperature and zero field, a performance level significantly exceeding the less than 6 μV K−1 typically observed in existing anomalous Nernst effect (ANE)-based magnetic systems. This enhanced thermoelectric response stems from a phenomenon called goniopolarity, achieved by leveraging flat-band- and van Hove singularity-driven electronic states within the material's unique structure. The work also reports a transverse Peltier conductivity of 105 A m−1 K−1, values an order of magnitude greater than conventional ANE systems, establishing goniopolar kagome metals as promising candidates for efficient, field-free thermoelectrics. The kagome…