MAGENTA · Project

Turning Waste Heat Into Electricity Using Magnetic Liquid Materials

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magenta-h2020.eu

Imagine every engine, factory, and computer chip constantly leaking heat energy that just disappears into the air. MAGENTA explored a completely new way to capture that wasted heat and turn it into electricity — using special magnetic liquids instead of the solid materials everyone else uses. Think of it like a liquid battery that gets charged by temperature differences. The team mixed tiny magnetic nanoparticles into special liquids and discovered they can generate electric current when one side is hotter than the other.

By the numbers

consortium partners

countries involved

SME partners in the supply chain

total project deliverables

27%

industry participation ratio

The business problem

What needed solving

Industries worldwide lose enormous amounts of energy as waste heat — from car engines and exhaust systems to microprocessors and industrial processes. Current thermoelectric devices that convert heat to electricity use expensive, often toxic solid materials that are rigid and limited in where they can be deployed. There is a gap for affordable, flexible, non-toxic thermoelectric solutions that can be adapted to different heat sources.

The solution

What was built

The project produced 14 deliverables over 4.5 years, including a high-temperature thermodiffusion measurement device with improved sample environment and optical index measurements, plus demonstration-type thermoelectric generators. The core output is foundational scientific knowledge on how magnetic nanoparticles dispersed in ionic liquids can convert heat differences into electricity.

Audience

Who needs this

Automotive OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers working on waste-heat recovery from engines and exhaustSemiconductor and microelectronics companies needing chip-level thermal energy harvestingIndustrial energy services companies offering waste-heat recovery solutions to factoriesThermoelectric device manufacturers looking for next-generation material alternativesData center operators seeking passive cooling solutions that also generate electricity

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Automotive

enterprise

Target: Car manufacturers and Tier-1 automotive suppliers working on thermal management

If you are an automotive company dealing with massive heat losses from engines and exhaust systems — this project developed liquid-based thermoelectric materials that could convert waste heat into usable electricity. The consortium of 11 partners across 6 countries specifically targeted the automobile sector as a lead-user industry. These magnetic fluid materials are described as versatile, cost-effective, and non-toxic compared to conventional thermoelectric solids.

Microelectronics

enterprise

Target: Semiconductor manufacturers and data center operators

If you are a microelectronics company struggling with chip-level heat dissipation — this project built foundational knowledge on magneto-thermoelectric energy conversion in ferrofluids that could simultaneously cool and harvest energy. The research consortium included 3 SME partners involved in the materials supply-chain and device design. The liquid form factor could enable integration into tight spaces where rigid thermoelectric modules cannot fit.

Industrial Heat Recovery

mid-size

Target: Process engineering firms and energy services companies

If you are an energy services company looking for new waste-heat recovery technologies for industrial clients — this project explored ionic-liquid ferrofluids as a brand new class of thermoelectric material. With 5 research organizations and 3 universities contributing over a 4.5-year period, the project produced 14 deliverables including demonstration-type thermoelectric generators. The non-toxic, cost-effective nature of these materials could open applications where traditional thermoelectrics are too expensive.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would this technology cost compared to existing thermoelectric solutions?

Based on available project data, the materials are described as cost-effective and non-toxic compared to conventional thermoelectric materials, which often rely on expensive or toxic elements like bismuth telluride. However, no specific pricing or cost comparison figures are provided in the project data. This remains an early-stage technology.

Can this scale to industrial waste-heat recovery applications?

The project targeted automobile and microelectronics sectors as lead-user industries and produced demonstration-type thermoelectric generators. However, as a FET Proactive research project (FETPROACT-01-2016), MAGENTA was focused on building foundational knowledge rather than industrial-scale deployment. Significant further development would be needed before industrial scaling.

What is the IP situation and how could a company license this?

The consortium of 11 partners across 6 countries included 3 SMEs and 1 industrial partner involved in materials supply-chain and device design. IP generated during the project would be governed by the consortium agreement. Contact the coordinator CEA (Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives) in France for licensing discussions.

How does this differ from conventional thermoelectric devices?

Conventional thermoelectric devices use solid-state materials. MAGENTA used liquid materials — specifically ionic liquids containing magnetic nanoparticles (ferrofluids). This liquid form factor offers potential advantages in flexibility, cost, and toxicity. The magnetic component adds a new dimension where magnetic fields can enhance the thermoelectric effect.

What stage of development did the project reach?

The project ran from 2017 to 2021 and produced 14 deliverables including a high-temperature measurement device and demonstration-type thermoelectric generators. As a FET Proactive project, its primary output was foundational scientific knowledge on magneto-thermoelectric phenomena, with the consortium intended to become a seed community for future commercialization.

Are there regulatory concerns with these materials?

The project specifically highlights that the materials are non-toxic, which is a significant advantage over many conventional thermoelectric materials that contain hazardous elements. Based on available project data, the ionic-liquid ferrofluid approach was designed to support environmentally sustainable energy transition in Europe.

Consortium

Who built it

The MAGENTA consortium brings together 11 partners from 6 countries (CH, EL, FR, IT, PL, UK), led by CEA — one of Europe's top energy research institutions. The team includes 5 research organizations, 3 universities, and 3 industry players (including 3 SMEs), giving it a 27% industry ratio. The 3 SMEs were specifically involved in the materials supply-chain, device design and performance, and market-uptake assessment, which means industry input shaped the research direction. However, with research organizations making up nearly half the consortium, this remains a science-heavy project. For a business looking to adopt this technology, CEA as coordinator is a strong and credible entry point, but expect further development cycles before commercial readiness.

COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVESCoordinator · FR
SOLVIONICparticipant · FR
CENTRO RICERCHE FIAT SCPAparticipant · IT
CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHEparticipant · IT
NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH "DEMOKRITOS"participant · EL
GEMMATE TECHNOLOGIES SRLparticipant · IT
HAUTE ECOLE SPECIALISEE DE SUISSE OCCIDENTALEparticipant · CH
C-TECH INNOVATION LIMITEDparticipant · UK
CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRSparticipant · FR
POLITECHNIKA GDANSKAparticipant · PL
SORBONNE UNIVERSITEthirdparty · FR

How to reach the team

CEA (Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives) in France — one of Europe's largest public research organizations with strong industry transfer track record.

Order a report on this consortium See COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how magnetic liquid thermoelectric technology could fit your waste-heat recovery needs? SciTransfer can connect you with the MAGENTA research team and help assess applicability to your specific use case.

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