High-temperature stable nano-structured silicides for highly efficient thermogenerators and their contacting technology

Activity Code: PEOPLE-2007-4-2.IIF
Coordinator:German Aerospace Center (DLR)

Abstract:

Deficiency of natural energy resources on Earth makes advanced energy management a challenge. Efforts are taken to harness cheap, inexhaustible, eco-friendly renewable sources of energy. Among these, thermoelectric (TE) conversion is a promising principle. Best materials for TE application are non-conventional heavily doped semiconductors. In particular, high temperature stable silicides (higher manganese silicides = HMS, CrSi2 and others) represent suitable candidates for demanded TE applications operable at high temperature.

A main aim of TE materials development is to improve the figure of merit ZT, which essentially depends on the energy band structure and scattering of carriers and phonons in the material. It is planned to investigate qualitatively the transport behaviour of HMS compacted from nano-sized powders, to optimize its properties by chemical synthesis, and to reach a reduction of the thermal conductivity in nano-crystalline material. 

Project Details:

Start Date: 01.06.2008
End Date:  31.05.2010
EU Contribution: 159,828 Euro
Project Cost: 159,828 Euro
Funding Scheme: International Incoming Fellowships (IIF)
Administrative Contact Person: Stefanie Woelk