Computers powered by fire might seem like science fiction dreams, but with chemistry Professor Mercouri Kanatzidis' work, these dreams aren't far off.

Kanatzidis discovered a thermoelectric material that takes energy waste from objects such as engines and turns it into useable electricity.

"It's a new material that is able to generate electricity from heat more efficiently than other materials," Kanatzidis said, adding he and his team have spent more than four years on the project.

He finally found that a combination of lead, antimony, silver and tellurium, known as LAST, worked best. Kanatzidis said he believes the material has the potential to conserve and recycle energy because the waste the heat produces can be converted into electricity or a coolant.

Mihal Gross, program officer for the Office of Naval Research, said they are interested in Kanatzidis' research because the material he created doesn't have moveable parts and works better in power generators on naval ships. The office is part of the U.S. Department of Defense, which funds Kanatzidis' research.

"Normally, when you get electricity from heat, it's a very small amount. But with Mercouri's research, we're using a much more efficient material and generating more electricity," Gross said.

Kanatzidis also is working with the Multi-University Research Initiative, a program run by the office. Kanatzidis also has received funding and help from the Traverse City-based Tellurex Corporation.

"What he's doing is very germane to our company, because he's working on thermoelectrical devices with improved materials," said Tellurex president Charles Cauchy.

Kanatzidis said he plans to take the new material and work with industries such as Tellurex to develop it in larger-scale quantities and put it into devices that people use, such as cars and refrigerators.