FS2: Materials for Thermoelectrics

Thermoelectric power generation and sensor technology rely on a thermally-induced electrical current in an all solid state device. In principle, the same kind of device can be used to electrically induce a thermal current and thus enable coolers or heaters. In both operational modes, the useful power and the power conversion efficiency depend on transport of charge carriers (electrons or holes) and propagation of lattice vibrations (phonons) in the thermoelectric materials involved.

Broader applications of thermoelectric devices can be expected if new materials can be developed and assembled to meet requirements reliably under a number of environments and duty loads. Deeper insight into mechanisms by novel theoretical concepts and advanced manufacturing methods is needed to realize unique thermoelectric materials and devices, which exhibit far greater figure of merit and high power factor than are currently available. Computational sciences also afford researchers tools and methods to guide in the design, performance, and evaluation of non-traditional thermoelectric materials and devices.

The focus of this session is to convene leading global field experts to engage in ceramic technology-centered dialogues to address critical issues in development of thermoelectric energy conversion devices. Researchers and scientists in thermoelectrics and related fields are invited to participate in this focused session.

Proposed sessions

• Novel thermoelectric materials with high power factor and high figure of merit
• Inorganic thermoelectric materials, organic thermoelectric materials, and organic-inorganic hybrid systems
• Electronic and phononic band structure engineering, nanostructural engineering, superlattice structures, and 2D thermoelectric materials
• Porous thermoelectric materials
• Thermal stability and mechanical properties of thermoelectric materials and reliability of devices
• Electrical and thermal contact resistivity and their interplay with joining of thermoelectric materials
• Thermodynamics and solid-state defect chemistry of thermoelectric materials
• Theoretical and experimental approaches to thermal and electrical transport mechanisms in thermoelectric materials
• Design of new thermoelectric materials using density functional theory or other first principles computational methods
• Innovative processing routes for thermoelectric materials
• Advanced manufacturing technologies for thermoelectric devices and modules
• Miniaturized and integrated thermoelectric devices
• System-level applications of advanced thermoelectric devices and modules in electrical power generation (i.e. thermogenerators), sensor technology, heating, and cooling

Organizers

• Armin Feldhoff, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany, armin.feldhoff@pci.uni-hannover.de
• Michitaka Ohtaki, Kyushu University, Japan, ohtaki@kyudai.jp
• Bed Poudel, Pennsylvania State University, USA, bup346@psu.edu
• Slavko Bernik, Jožef Stefan Institute, Slovenia
• Jon Goldsby, NASA Glenn Research Center, USA
• Gideon Grader, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Israel
• Takao Mori, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Japan
• Amin Nozariasbmarz, Pennsylvania State University, USA
• Shin Sunmi, National University of Singapore, Singapore