This symposium will explore state-of-the-art thermoelectric, thermionic and thermophotovoltaic materials and technologies for direct thermal-to-electrical energy conversion. Material and device designs directed to optimise efficiency and cost/performance aspects of direct thermal-to-electrical conversion will be enlightened with emphasis on tailoring electrical, thermal and optical properties to the demand of applications.
Focus will be on direct conversion into electricity of the waste heat emitted by a number of sources such as industrial furnaces, power plants, automobile exhausts and geothermal heat sources as well, and the solar thermal energy. Covered will be materials issues such as: theoretical studies on band structure, crystal chemistry, transport properties, energy transfer processes, etc.; novel synthesis and processing routes for polycrystalline and single crystal bulk materials, nanostructured materials,
3-D architectures, composites and nanocomposites; low dimensionality structures such as thin films, superlattices, quantum dots and nanofibers; advanced characterisation of electrical, optical, thermal and mechanical properties. Device design and performance and system integration will also be enlightened for ongoing or forthcoming applications in direct thermal-to-electrical energy conversion technologies. Emerging ideas and proposal studies of novel concepts for direct thermal-to-electrical energy conversion working in tandem with other energy conversion technologies (i.e. fuel cells, PV-TE hybrid systems, etc.) will be interesting topics to enrich the debate.

Session topics

FD-1 Theoretical concepts and basic approaches for high efficiency thermal-to-electrical energy conversion

FD-2 Novel materials for high efficiency thermal-to-electrical energy conversion

FD-3 Devices technologies and applications for thermoelectrics, thermionics, and thermophotovoltaics

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