Modeling Strongly Correlated Multilayered Nanostructures for use as Thermoelectric Refrigerators

模拟用作热电冰箱的强相关多层纳米结构

• 批准号: 0705266
• 负责人: James Freericks
• 金额: $ 59.1万
• 依托单位: Georgetown University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-08-01 至 2011-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0705266&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Modeling; Strongly; Correlated; Multilayered; Nanostructures

This award supports theoretical and computational research onthermoelectric materials. In these materials, the flow of heat andelectric charge are linked in a way that makes it possible to convertelectrical current into heat flow for cooling purposes, or to convertheat flow into electrical current for power generation. Thermoelectricdevices are already used in specialized applications, but improvedmaterials that allow more efficient device operation are needed. Thisproject will use theory and computation to search for novel materialswith improved thermoelectric properties for cooling applications. Theresearch will address the roles of both electrons and lattice vibrationsin the transport of heat and electric charge in thermoelectricmaterials. Materials with strong electron-electron interactions will beinvestigated, both in bulk form, as well as in artificially engineerednanostructures. The goal is to develop efficient and accuratecomputational methods that can be used to identify promising classes ofmaterials that optimize competing factors relevant for cooling and toelucidate ways in which nanostructures can be used to modify both chargeand heat flow to improve thermoelectric performance.This project supports the training of graduate students, both in theacademic research environment and in the industrial R&D context. Theproject also provides research experiences for undergraduate students,and supports the continued development and assessment of a course inquantum mechanics and materials science for non-science students. Arelated outreach program will introduce the wonders of the quantum worldto elementary-school students.

该奖项支持热电材料的理论和计算研究。 在这些材料中，热量和电荷的流动以某种方式联系在一起，使得有可能将电流转换成热流用于冷却目的，或者将热流转换成电流用于发电。热电装置已经用于专门的应用，但需要改进的材料，使更有效的设备操作。该项目将使用理论和计算来寻找具有改进的热电性能的新型材料用于冷却应用。 这项研究将解决电子和晶格振动在热电材料中的热和电荷传输中的作用。 具有强电子-电子相互作用的材料将被研究，无论是散装形式，以及在人工工程纳米结构。 其目标是开发有效和准确的计算方法，可用于识别有前途的材料类别，优化与冷却相关的竞争因素，并阐明纳米结构可用于修改电荷和热流以提高热电性能的方法。该项目支持在学术研究环境和工业研发环境中培养研究生。 该项目还为本科生提供研究经验，并支持非理科学生继续开发和评估量子力学和材料科学课程。 一个相关的推广计划将向小学生介绍量子世界的奇迹。