ICT2014 Abstracts

In order to efficiently convert waste-heat to electrical energy, as well as for solid-state refrigeration applications, certain material properties are desirable. Effective strategies for selecting material systems, specific compositions and doping in order to achieve appropriate electronic structure modifications and/or effective phonon-scattering mechanisms is of interest. The predictive power of computational/theoretical methods to design appropriate compositions and modifications is a very powerful tool; however, a fundamental understanding of bonding and what structurally relevant properties can provide desirable properties, a much less rigorous endeavor, is also useful. Recent developments on bulk materials that incorporate some of these approaches in focusing on materials that may provide high thermoelectric performance will be presented. An exploration of the effects from nanostructuring in bulk materials in order to seek ways to further reduce the thermal conductivity while introducing energy scattering mechanisms that promote enhanced thermoelectric properties is also of interest. Equally important are device-related issues, not only to guide the materials developments but certain aspects of this part of the research can benefit from new materials and approaches. The overall approach is intended to further the fundamental understanding of thermoelectrics-related research, while potentially enhancing the development of other energy-related research.