Solid State Devices for Energy Conversion

Catalog description

Intensive research efforts have yielded promising new materials approaches to 'alternative' energy conversion technologies, such as solar cells or photovoltaics; thermoelectric materials, which convert waste heat to electricity; metal/semiconductor superlattices for thermionic energy conversion; and fuel cells. At the same time, notable advances have been made in devices that substantially enhance our energy efficiency: e.g., chemical sensors and light-emitting diodes for solid-state lighting. In all of these devices, interfaces between dissimilar materials often govern and/or limit the behavior. In addition to the basic structures and operating principles, this course will cover practical materials interface issues, such as electrical transport, thermal stability, contact resistance, and bandgap engineering, that significantly affect the performance of a variety of energy conversion and energy-saving devices.