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Seminars and Colloquia
Structuring Intuition with Theory: Materials for Thermoelectric Energy Conversion
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Europe/Rome
131 (INFN Edificio C)
131
INFN Edificio C
Description
The thermoelectric effect is the direct conversion of a temperature
gradient in electrical power. It provides a fully solid-state solution
for power generation and is technologically attractive for compact
energy recovery systems and refrigeration. Conversion efficiency
critically relies on the electrical and thermal transport coefficients
and the materials must satisfy contradictory requirements that depend
on the details of the electronic structure, the anharmonic terms in the
vibrations, and the effects of chemical disorder and defects.
Although the task of predicting and tailoring specific properties is
formidable, first principles methodologies have grown in applicability
to the point where computational experiment can be used to disentangle
the microscopic degrees of freedom and distill specific design rules for
novel compositions. In turn, these design rules can be exploited in
systematic searches for the desired functional properties.
Focusing on thermoelectric materials for automotive energy recovery
systems I will build on the synergy between theory and experiments to
discuss the challenge of increasing the efficiency of thermoelectric
devices.
gradient in electrical power. It provides a fully solid-state solution
for power generation and is technologically attractive for compact
energy recovery systems and refrigeration. Conversion efficiency
critically relies on the electrical and thermal transport coefficients
and the materials must satisfy contradictory requirements that depend
on the details of the electronic structure, the anharmonic terms in the
vibrations, and the effects of chemical disorder and defects.
Although the task of predicting and tailoring specific properties is
formidable, first principles methodologies have grown in applicability
to the point where computational experiment can be used to disentangle
the microscopic degrees of freedom and distill specific design rules for
novel compositions. In turn, these design rules can be exploited in
systematic searches for the desired functional properties.
Focusing on thermoelectric materials for automotive energy recovery
systems I will build on the synergy between theory and experiments to
discuss the challenge of increasing the efficiency of thermoelectric
devices.
