Japan STA Program: Transport Theory of Theromoelectric Superlattices

日本科学技术振兴机构（STA）为Larry Whitlow博士提供为期24个月的日本筑波电工实验室博士后奖学金。Whitlow博士将与基础能源研究部主任Toshitaka Ohta博士合作，进行一个名为“热电超晶格的输运理论”的研究项目。本理论研究项目旨在设计新型高效热电材料。特别是，研究人员将研究使用超晶格结构来提高半导体的热电功率因数。超晶格结构有望通过改变定义的态密度和载流子相互作用来影响电荷-载流子能谱。所提出的研究将为热电半导体结构和功能之间的联系提供实质性和创新性的见解，并将为正在进行的超晶格结构的国际实验提供重要指导。研究的主要目标是提高现有热能的整体效率，开发制冷和能量转换装置所需的替代高能热电系统。＊＊＊

Whitlow 9704014 This award supports a 24 month Science and Technology Agency of Japan (STA) Postdoctoral Fellowship for Dr. Larry Whitlow at the Electrotechnical Laboratory, Tsukuba, Japan. Dr. Whitlow will work with Dr. Toshitaka Ohta, Director of the Fundamental Energy Research Section, on a research project entitled, "Transport Theory of Thermoelectric Superlattices." This theoretical research project is directed toward the design of new high-efficiency thermoelectric materials. In particular, the researchers will study the use of superlattice structures to enhance the thermoelectric power factor of semiconductors. Superlattice structures are expected to influence the charge-carrier energy spectrum through changes in the defined density of states and carrier interactions. The proposed research will offer substantial and innovative insight into the connection between structure and function in thermoelectric semiconductors and will give important guidance to ongoing international experiments in superlattice construction. The main goal of the research is to increase the over-all efficiency of current thermal- energy sources and develop alternative high-energy thermoelectric systems required for refrigeration and energy conversion devices. ***