Advanced Thermoelectrics

<p>This book provides an overview on nanostructured thermoelectric materials and devices, covering fundamental concepts, synthesis techniques, device contacts and stability, and potential applications, especially in waste heat recovery and solar energy conversion. The contents focus on thermoelectric devices made from nanomaterials with high thermoelectric efficiency for use in large scale to generate megawatts electricity.</p><ul> <p> </p> <li>Covers the latest discoveries, methods, technologies in materials, contacts, modules, and systems for thermoelectricity.</li> <p> </p> <li>Addresses practical details of how to improve the efficiency and power output of a generator by optimizing contacts and electrical conductivity.</li> <p> </p> <li>Gives tips on how to realize a realistic and usable device or module with attention to large scale industry synthesis and product development.</li> </ul><p>Prof. Zhifeng Ren is M. D. Anderson Professor in the Department of Physics and the Texas Center for Superconductivity at the University of Houston.</p><p>Prof. Yucheng Lan is an associate professor in Morgan State University.</p><p>Prof. Qinyong Zhang is a professor in the Center for Advanced Materials and Energy at Xihua University of China. </p> <p><strong>Part I Thermoelectric Materials</strong> 1. Introduction to Thermoelectric Materials, Contacts, Devices, and Systems<b> 2. </b>Low-Temperature Thermoelectric Materials<b> 3. </b>Materials for Near-Room Temperatures<b> 4. </b>IV–VI Compounds for Medium Temperatures<b> 5. </b>Thermoelectric Sb-Based Skutterudites for Medium Temperatures<b> 6. </b>Mg2BIV for Medium Temperatures<b> 7. </b>Ca1−<i>x</i>Yb<i>x</i>Mg2Bi2 and Ca1−<i>x</i>Yb<i>x</i>Zn2Sb2-Related 1–2–2 Zintl Phases<b> 8. </b>Half-Heuslers for High Temperatures<b> 9. </b>Silicon–Germanium Alloys<b> 10. </b>Other Thermoelectric Materials<b> 11. </b>Engineering of Materials<b> 12. </b>Simulation of Phonons<b> 13. </b>Reliable Prediction of Efficiency and Output Power and Balance between Materials and Devices in Thermoelectric Power Generators<b> 14. </b>Mechanical Properties of Thermoelectric Materials<b> Part II Thermoelectric Contacts 15. </b>Contact for Bi2Te3-Based Thermoelectric Leg<b> 16. </b>Contacts for Skutterudites<b> 17. </b>Contacts for PbTe<b> 18. </b>Bismuth Telluride Modules<b> 19. </b>Half-Heusler Modules<b> 20. </b>Silicide Modules: Practical Issues in Developing Mg2Si with Good Stability for Generating Power from Waste Heat Sources<b> 21. </b>Oxide Modules<b> 22. </b>Solar Thermoelectric Power Generators</p>