Nanostructured Thermoelectrics; Synthesis, Processing and Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Nanotechnology has made an impact in many fields, not to mention energy harvesting materials including the thermoelectrics (TE). Several known TE materials have shown significantly improved conversion performance when made of nanosized building blocks, due to confinement and/or scattering based effects. The “nano” approach offers the possibility of decoupling and engineering the power factor and thermal conductivity separately.  One important aspect in bulk TEs is to maintain the nano-features intact within the material during the further processing steps by avoiding conventional processing routes, which make use of high temperature processes for prolonged periods.

Achieving a high ZT was at the top of the list of items for a disruptive TE technology.  Despite ZT level of >2 has been achieved in nanostructured TE materials, we have not seen a new wave of marketable TE products yet. This is mainly due to material stability and contact related problems for packaging these materials into devices. Nanocomposites, or hybrid materials concepts may provide with more stable materials compositions and architectures, which may allow the TE technology to become more widespread.

 [Aim and Scope ]

This Special Issue aims at addressing different approaches of synthesis of bulk TE materials with nanoscale features and nanocomposites using methodologies ranging from solution phase synthesis to mechanochemical alloying/grinding techniques. Research on processing of these TE materials, as well TE devices made using nanostructured TEs, including hybrid materials or nanocomposites, are under the topics covered in this Special Issue due to their significance for paving the road from materials to niche TEG devices. Another focus of this Special Issue will be on theory and numerical simulation modeling extraordinary behaviors arising from nanostructuring, and simulation of nanostructured TE devices.

Prof. Dr. Muhammet S. Toprak
Assoc. Prof. Sedat Ballikaya
Guest Editors

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