February 1, 2013, 3:10 pm to 4:00 pm

"Thermoelectric Materials and a 'Bottom Up' Nanostructuring Approach to Their Optimization," by Jeff Dyck, John Carroll University (Physics Colloquium Series)

Jeff Dyck is an associate professor in the Department of Physics at John Carroll University.

Abstract: Thermoelectric materials are the building blocks of solid state devices that convert heat energy into electrical energy or vice versa. The advantages of using solid state devices in refrigeration or power generation applications include a lack of moving parts, the possibility of miniaturization, a long maintenance-free lifetime, and no harmful gases. Because of the poor efficiency of present thermoelectric devices, their use today is mostly limited to niche applications. Over the last decade, increased activity in thermoelectrics research that takes advantage of recent advancements in materials science has resulted in dramatically improved thermoelectric performance. Through introducing nanometer-sized features into a bulk material, it has been demonstrated that thermoelectric efficiency can be increased. One such approach is to start with chemically synthesized nanocrystalline powers and then form bulk specimens by compacting and densifying the powder -- this is termed a bottom up approach. In this talk, I will introduce the physics of thermoelectric materials and discuss experiments aimed at optimization of the thermoelectric properties of materials through these nanostructuring approaches.

Reception to follow.

Location: Franklin Miller, Jr. Lecture Hall (Hayes 109)

Sponsor: Department of Physics

Contact: Connie M. Miller

Email: millercm@kenyon.edu

Phone: (740) 427-5069

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