New High Efficiency Thermoelectric Materials for Thermal Energy Harvesting

本研究项目重点研究用于热能收集和转换的新型高效热电材料的制备、表征和理解。高效热电材料用于热电装置，旨在将热能转化为电能。太阳能热能、余热、地热能等热能转化为电能，将在发展先进的可再生能源技术中发挥重要作用。本项目将开发一种新的方法，利用C60富勒烯基固体材料、C60/Bi2Te3和C60/TiO2纳米复合材料来提高热电材料的能量转换效率。C60富勒烯的一个新特性是其超低导热性，这是高效热电器件所必需的。除了尺寸效应对热输运的影响外，所提出的纳米复合材料还将受益于其成分优越的热电性能。预计在项目结束时将发现新的高效热电材料。该项目还将为研究生和本科生（包括少数民族学生）提供研究培训和指导，让他们密切参与研究活动。所提出的工作的独特智力价值在于联合研究工作，包括新型热电材料的先进材料制造，表征和计算材料研究。综合研究工作将使科学家能够了解材料特性，识别新材料并确定最佳制造条件。该项目的成功将对国家对清洁和可再生能源技术的需求产生更广泛的影响。通过热电转换收集热能（太阳能、废热和地热等）为化石燃料的燃烧提供了更清洁、更有效的替代品，并能够减少温室气体排放。该项目的成功将是我国实现能源安全和独立的重要一步。该项目具有潜在的革命性，因为所研究的纳米复合材料具有C60的低导热性和高塞贝克性以及Bi2Te3和TiO2的导电性。这将导致一组全新的热电材料具有很高的价值。该项目由工程理事会（ENG）化学、生物工程、环境和运输系统（CBET）部门的热传输过程（TTP）计划和综合活动办公室（OIA）的刺激竞争性研究实验计划（EPSCoR）共同资助。

CBET-0754821ZhaoThis 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).