ECE 595G - Materials and Devices for Solid-State Energy Conversion

Course Details

Lecture Hours: 3 Credits: 3

Counts as:

Experimental Course Offered:

Spring 2005

Catalog Description:

Principles of solid-state conversion of energy between electrical and light (photovoltaics, thermophotovoltaics and solid-statelighting based on light-emitting diodes), thermal and electrical (thermoelectric and solid-state thermionic, magnetic and acoustic (magnetostrictive) and electrical and acoustic (piezoelectric and electrostrictive); irreversible thermodynamis and efficiency limits, materials figures-of-merit, fundamentals of semiconductor device physics, device design issues; challenges in materials engineering (role of defects, dopants, contacts, bandgap engineering, and methods of materials synthesis); potential advantages of nanocomposites; prospects for technology replacement; societal impact assessment.

Course Objectives:

This course aims to provide the student with the theoretical background necessary to evaluate solid-state energy conversion technologies, to design simple devices, and to determine the materials properties necessary to achieve optimal device performance.

Required Text(s):

None.

Recommended Text(s):

  1. Direct Energy Conversion , Fourth Edition , Stanley W. Angrist , Allyn and Bacon , 1982 , ISBN No. 0205077587

Learning Outcomes:

A student who successfully fulfills the course requirements will have demonstrated:
  1. A basic understanding of the thermodynamic limits of efficiency for energy conversion devices. [a]
  2. A basic understanding of electronic and thermal transport in semiconductors. [a]
  3. A basic understanding of the properties of materials used in energy conversion devices. [a]
  4. The ability to provide an elementary explanation of photovoltaic device operation. [a]
  5. The ability to provide an elementary explanation of light-emitting diode operation. [a]
  6. The ability to provide an elementary explanation of thermoelectric generator operation. [a]
  7. The ability to provide an elementary explanation of piezoelectric transducer operation. [a]
  8. The ability to analyze and critique proposed energy conversion mechanisms and devices. [a,c,e,g,h]
  9. The ability to work in a multidisciplinary team in the preparation and oral presentation of a position paper. [a,d,e,f,g,h]

Lecture Outline:

Week(s) Topics
1 Introduction to solid-state energy conversion devices; history, present thrusts, and future promise
1 Irreversible thermodynamics
1 Unified model for energy conversion devices
2 Review of semiconductor device physics
2 Photovoltaics and thermophotovoltaics
2 Light-emitting diodes for general illumination
3 Thermoelectric generators and cooling devices
1 Thermionic generators
2 Piezoelectric and electrostrictive transducers
1 Magnetostrictive transducers

Engineering Design Content:

  • Establishment of Objectives and Criteria
  • Synthesis
  • Analysis

Engineering Design Consideration(s):

  • Economic
  • Manufacturability
  • Sustainability

Assessment Method:

Assessment will be accomplished by exams (a midterm and a final exam); approximately eight problem sets, each typically comprising one open-ended problem designed to practice critical thinking skills; an individual critique of a novel energy conversion device proposed in the scientific or patent literature, presented orally to the class; and a team technology assessment exercise presented to the class in debate form.