Abstract
The concept of using nanocomposite thermoelectric materials in bulk form for practical applications is presented. Laboratory studies have shown the possibilities of nanostructures to yield large reductions in the thermal conductivity while at the same time increasing the power factor. Theoretical studies have suggested that structural ordering in nano-systems is not necessary for the enhancement of ZT, leading to the idea of using nanocomposites as a practical scale-up technology for making bulk thermoelectric materials with enhanced ZT values. Specific examples are presented of nanocomposite thermoelectric materials developed by our group based on the familiar silicon germanium system, showing enhanced thermoelectric performance through nano-structuring.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Population data from 1950 – 2050: Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat. World Population Prospects: The 2008 Revision. United Nations, 2008.
Population data from 1750 – 1950: United Nations. The World at Six Billion. United Nations, 1999.
U.S. Department of Energy. Energy Information Administration. Report# DOE/EIA-0484: International Energy Outlook 2008. Washington: Government Printing Office (2008).
J.T. Houghton et al., Climate change 2001: The Scientific Basis. (IPCC, Cambridge, UK, 2001).
World International Renewable Energy Conference, Washington, 2008.
International Energy Agency. Energy to 2050: Scenarios for a Sustainable Future. (IEA, France 2003).
X. Shi et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 92 182101, (2008).
R. Venkatasubramanian, E. Siivola, T. Colpitts, and B. O’Quinn, Nature 413 597–602 (2001).
T.C. Harman, P.J. Taylor, M.P. Walsh, and B.E. LaForge, Science 297 (5590) 2229–2232 (2002).
B. Poudel et al., Science 320 (5876) 634–638 (2008).
J.P. Heremans et al., Science 321 (5888) 554–557 (2008).
R. Yang, Ph.D. dissertation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2006.
A.S. Henry and G. Chen, J. Comput. Theor. Nanosci., 5, 141–152 (2008).
A.J. Minnich, M.S. Dresselhaus, Z.F. Ren, and G.Chen, Energy Environ. Sci. (in press).
M.S. Dresselhaus et al., Advanced Materials, 19, 1043–1053 (2007).
G. Joshi et al., Nano Lett. 8 (12) 4670–4674 (2008).
X.W. Wang et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 93 193121 (2008).
G. Zhu et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. (in press).
K. Matsubara, in 21st International Conference on Thermoelectrics, Portland, OR, 2002, pp. 418–423.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dresselhaus, M.S., Chen, G., Ren, Z.F. et al. The Promise of Nanocomposite Thermoelectric Materials. MRS Online Proceedings Library 1166, 201 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-1166-N02-01
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-1166-N02-01