CAREER: Novel Conducting Polymer Nanocomposites with Tailored Thermal and Electrical Properties - Designing High Performance Thermoelectric Materials

具有量身定做的热电性能的新型导电聚合物纳米复合材料-设计高性能热电材料凯斯西储大学的Alexis Abramson，PIT热电设备(例如固态冷却器)特别吸引人，因为它们不包含移动部件，对环境无害，并且可以很容易地融入散热或能量转换技术中。虽然热电设备的使用在今天并不广泛，但通过用高性能的热电纳米材料取代传统的半导体/半金属，能量转换、发电和散热应用方面的革命无疑将随之而来。这是因为某些纳米结构表现出增强的热电性能，尽管人们对其中涉及的现象了解有限。鉴于这种认识的缺乏及其在科学和技术上的重要性，本研究计划将重点研究嵌在导电聚合物中的由Bi、PbTe或Bi2Te3纳米颗粒(体积分数和纳米颗粒尺寸可变)组成的纳米复合材料的热学和电学性质。拟议的计划将整合三个主要组成部分，即综合、实验和建模。实验将包括塞贝克系数，以及热导率和电导率的测量。此外，还将利用分子动力学模拟，进行基准研究，以检查基质材料(即界面区域)中纳米颗粒的存在如何影响热传输。该计划将涉及并鼓励教育工作者、研究人员、教职员工、各个年龄段的学生和普通公众之间的合作。

Novel Conducting Polymer Nanocomposites with Tailored Thermal and Electrical Properties - Designing High Performance Thermoelectric MaterialsAlexis Abramson, Case Western Reserve University, PIThermoelectric devices (e.g. solid state coolers) are especially attractive because they do not contain moving parts, they are environmentally benign, and they may be easily incorporated into technologies for heat removal or for energy conversion. While the use of thermoelectric devices is not widespread today, by replacing conventional semiconductors/semimetals with high performance thermoelectric nanomaterials, a revolution in energy conversion and generation and heat removal applications will undoubtedly ensue. This is because certain nanostructures exhibit enhanced thermoelectric properties; although there is a limited understanding of the phenomena involved. In view of this lack of understanding and its scientific and technological importance, this research plan will consist of a focused investigation into thermal and electrical properties of nanocomposites comprised of Bi, PbTe or Bi2Te3 nanoparticles (of variable volume fraction and nanoparticle size) embedded within a conducting polymer. The proposed program will integrate three major ingredients, i.e. synthesis, experimentation and modeling. Experiments will include Seebeck coefficient, and thermal and electrical conductivity measurements. Additionally, using molecular dynamics simulations, benchmark studies to examine how thermal transport is affected by the presence of nanoparticles in a matrix material (i.e. interfacial regions) will also be conducted. The program will involve and encourage collaborations among educators, researchers, faculty, students of all ages and the general public.