International Conference on Solid State Devices and Materials

Development of thermoelectric (TE) materials is important, for energy saving via waste heat power generation, and IoT power sources. For high TE performance, we must find ways to overcome the traditional tradeoffs between the properties, namely, between Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity, and between the electrical and thermal conductivity, to achieve high figure of merit ZT. The higher that ZT is, the closer that the conversion efficiency approaches the ideal Carnot efficiency.I will present some key strategies we are pursuing to overcome the traditional tradeoffs and issues, and develop high performance thermoelectric materials and devices. Recently, we have developed novel abundant materials which could surpass the performance of the long-time champion bismuth telluride.