[Che-student-staff-list] Graduate Seminar Announcement - Dr Mercouri Kanatzidis

[Ewing, Virginia G]

Purdue University
School of Chemical Engineering
Graduate seminar series

Dr. Mercouri G. Kanatzidis
Department of Chemistry
Northwestern University

"Panoscopic Approach to High Performance Thermoelectric Materials"

September 3, 2013
9:00-10:15 a.m.
FRNY G140

Reception at 8:30 a.m. in Henson Atrium


Abstract:  The nanostructuring approach to highly efficient thermoelectrics has produced a paradigm shift and ushered in a new era of investigation for bulk thermoelectrics. The new approach shows considerable promise to enhance the "contra-indicated" parameters of high electrical conductivity and low thermal conductivity. Currently lead chalcogenides hold the record in figure of merit for high temperature power generation applications. This is achieved by introducing endotaxial nanostructures in bulk host materials to significantly reduce lattice thermal conductivity via effective scattering of heat carrying phonon through hierarchical architecture of nanostructured thermoelectrics. Band alignment strategies are then applied to maximize the charge transport and the power factor. In band alignment hole transport is controlled by minimizing band offsets of the valence bands between the host material and the embedded second phases. The smaller valence band offset allows better carrier transmission between two endotaxial components, thus minimizing hole mobility deterioration and allowing a larger power factor to be achieved. The presentation will highlight recent advances in our group and the move toward tellurium free systems.


Bio:  Mercouri G Kanatzidis received his Ph.D. degree in chemistry from the University of Iowa in 1984, after obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree from Aristotle University in Greece. He was a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Michigan and Northwestern University from 1985 to 1987. He earned the distinction of University Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at Michigan State University where he served for 19 years since 1987.  In 2006 he moved to Northwestern University where he was named Charles E. and Emma H. Morrison Professor. He also carries a joint appointment as a Senior Scientist in the Materials Sciences Division at Argonne National Laboratory.  He has been visiting professor at the University of Nantes (Institute des Materiaux Jean Rouxel) in 1996 and the University of Muenster in 2003. His research has generated seminal work in metal chalcogenide chemistry through the development of advanced thermoelectric materials, use of novel "solvents" for solid state synthesis including flux methods, as well as hydrothermal and solvothermal techniques. He is also active in the field of solar energy materials, phase-change materials, the design of framework solids, intermetallic phases and nanocomposite materials.  The bulk of his work is described in the more than 700 research publications.
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