Short Summary
New Generation
Thermoelectric Materials for Power Generation and Refrigeration
Angelica M. Stacy
99-05
EISG Project
Title: New Generation
Thermoelectric Materials for Power Generation and Refrigeration
EISG Grant Number: 99-05
PIER Area: Environmentally Preferred Advanced Generation
Principal Investigator: Angelica Stacy
Contact Information: (510) 642-3450 stacy@cchem.berkeley.edu
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
Grant Amount: $74,994
Grant Term: 18 Months
Project Description:
Thermoelectric power generators are produced by joining two thermoelectric materials with opposite charge carriers and applying heat to one side. The purpose of this project is to research the feasibility of fabricating a thermoelectric material into a layer of microscopic unidirectional wires that are oriented perpendicular to the first layer which in theory should improve the conversion efficiency. Forming the wires will be accomplished through the precise, electrodeposition of Cobalt Antimonide (CoSb3) into a porous template.
Proposed Outcomes:
· Optimized methodology for electrodeposition of CoSb3 in a porous alumina template.
· Assessment of the thermoelectric properties of a fabricated array of CoSb3 nanowires using electrodeposition.
Anticipated Benefits:
· Improve the efficiency of thermoelectric materials above the current state of the art by 10%.
· Advantages of thermoelectric power generation include: no emissions, no moving parts, quiet operation and can operate from waste heat.