SEMINAR

Nanostructured Thermoelectrics and Beyond

Prof. Mercouri G. Kanatzidis

Professor of Chemistry in Northwestern University and Argonne National Laboratory, USA

2012年9月15日（星期六）10:00 AM

四号楼 14楼第一会议室

Prof. Mercouri G. Kanatzidis，著名固体化学家，1984年获爱荷华大学无机化学博士学位，目前为美国西北大学化学系和阿尔贡国家实验室新能源项目双聘教授，长期从事热电新化合物结构性能研究，发表Nature, Science, Angew Chem., JACS等SCI论文700余篇，被引超过19,000次(H因子：68)。

联系人：陈立东 黄富强

摘 　要

The recent emergence of nanostructured thermoelectrics has a design paradigm in achieving high efficiency has ushered in a new era for bulk thermoelectrics and has brought these exciting materials closer to commercial applications. Todate lead chalcogenides hold the record in figure of merit for high temperature power generation applications. Nanostructuringis in thermoelectrics is achieved with different ways. We are interested in systems containing embedded endotaxial nanostructures in bulk host materials. These nanostructures can significantly reduce lattice thermal conductivity via effective scattering of heat carrying phonons but not reduce carrier mobilities. When atomic scale control is coupled with endotaxial nanostructuring and then combined with proper particle size engineering, the resulting thermoelectric system can be a highly efficient hierarchical architecture. Band alignment strategies can then applied to maximize the charge transport and the power factor. 

Recent progress in raising the thermoelectric efficiency has been impressive with record high values reported recently. A significant issue for the viability of modern thermoelectrics that should not be overlooked, however, has to do with the cost if broad availability of end products is to be achieved. Currently, a large body of work in the so-called intermediate temperature regime (550-950 K) is focused on Te-based nanostructured materials such as PbTe-x%MTe (M=Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Cd). Attractive Te-free alternatives can be found in the congeneric PbSe and PbS which have remarkably similar electronic and structure properties. Recently we have achieve high figures of merit in these systems as well and the future for Te-free thermoelectric based power generation applications look promising.

This presentation will highlight recent advances in our group and the move toward tellurium free systems. The presentation will also outline possible future strategies for further enhancing the thermoelectric figure of merit of bulk nanostructured thermoelectric and for creating materials using low cost earth abundant elements.