Abstract: In one aspect of an inventive concept, a product includes a substrate and a material formed from a precursor powder, where the material includes a plurality of particles from the precursor powder deposited on the substrate. The plurality of particles have structural characteristics defined by an impact of the particles on the substrate and/or on previously deposited particles. Moreover, the material has a microstructure, where the microstructure of the material is substantially the same as a microstructure of the precursor powder. The microstructure of the material is characterized by at least one property, where the at least one property is substantially the same as a corresponding at least one property of the precursor powder.

Abstract: A novel energy harvesting system and method utilizing a thermoelectric having a material exhibiting a large thermally induced strain (TIS) due to a phase transformation and a material exhibiting a stress induced electric field is introduced. A material that exhibits such a phase transformation exhibits a large increase in the coefficient of thermal expansion over an incremental temperature range (typically several degrees Kelvin). When such a material is arranged in a geometric configuration, such as, for a example, a laminate with a material that exhibits a stress induced electric field (e.g. a piezoelectric material) the thermally induced strain is converted to an electric field.