New High Efficiency Thermoelectric Materials for Thermal Energy Harvesting

Southern University, Baton Rouge LA

Investigators

Abstract

CBET-0754821 Zhao This research project focuses on the fabrication, characterization, and understanding of new high-efficiency thermoelectric materials for thermal energy harvesting and conversion. High-efficiency thermoelectric materials are used in thermoelectric devices designed to convert thermal energy into electricity. The conversion of solar thermal energy, waste heat, geothermal energy and other thermal energies into electrical energy will play an important role in the endeavor to develop advanced renewable energy technologies. In this project, a novel approach will be developed to enhance the energy conversion efficiency of thermoelectric materials by utilizing C60 fullerene based solid materials, C60/Bi2Te3 and C60/TiO2 nanocomposites. One of the novel properties of C60 fullerene is its super-low thermal conductivity, which is required for high-efficiency thermoelectric devices. The proposed nanocomposites are expected to benefit from the superior thermoelectric properties of the constituents, in addition to the size effect on the thermal transport. It is anticipated that new highly efficient thermoelectric materials will be identified at the end of the project period. The project will also provide research training and mentoring for graduate and undergraduate students, including minority students, by intimately engaging them in the research activities. A unique intellectual merit of the proposed work lies in the combined research efforts, including advanced material fabrication, characterization, and computational materials research for novel thermoelectric materials. The integrated research efforts will enable the scientists to understand the material properties, identify new materials and determine the optimal fabrication conditions. The success of this project will have a broader impact on the national needs for clean and renewable energy technologies. Harvesting thermal energy (solar, waste heat and geothermal, etc.) via thermoelectric conversion offers cleaner, more-efficient alternatives to the combustion of fossil fuels, and enables the reduction of greenhouse emissions. The success of the project will represent an important step toward achieving energy security and independence for our nation. The project is potentially transformative because the nanocomposite materials to be investigated possess combined properties of low thermal conductivity of C60 and high Seebeck and electrical conductivity of Bi2Te3 and TiO2. This will lead to a completely new group of thermoelectric materials with high figure of merit. This project is jointly funded by the Thermal Transport Processes (TTP) Program, of the Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET) Division within the Directorate for Engineering (ENG), and by the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), of the Office of Integrative Activities (OIA).