Thermal Energy Conversion

The research focus is to understand the mechanisms to manipulate thermal transport processes in nanomaterials and interfaces and their coupling with electronic and photonic phenomena to pave the way for novel high-efficiency energy conversion devices. The CFES effort is to study new nanomaterials that can be used to control heat generation, storage and harvesting in multiple crosscutting applications of energy conversion, storage, conservation and utilization.

Projects

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Energy Materials:

• Thermally adaptive nanomaterials for new energy paradigms.
• Techniques for the directed synthesis and characterization of single crystal and branched nanorods.
• Novel composite nanorods and techniques to measure molecular/atomic-level interfaces Synthesis of self-assembled conductive networks as thermal interface materials.

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Device Development and Testing:

• Development of nanoscale thermoelectric devices for power generation.
• Tunable thermal conductivity materials and devices.