MSE 597E / ECE 595G

Materials and Devices for Solid-State Energy Conversion

Sem. 1. Class 3, cr. 3. (offered in alternate years). Prerequisite: senior or graduate standing in engineering or science.

MSE 597E is an elective course.

Weekly Schedule: Three 50-minute lectures.

Relation of Course to Program Outcomes

1. an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering to problems in materials engineering.
5. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems, particularly in the context of materials selection and design.
7. an ability to exhibit effective oral and written communication skills.

Goals

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.

Course Objectives

A student who successfully fulfills the course requirements will have demonstrated:

  • A basic understanding of the thermodynamic limits of efficiency for energy conversion devices
  • A basic understanding of electronic and thermal transport in semiconductors
  • A basic understanding of the properties of materials used in energy conversion devices
  • The ability to provide an elementary explanation of photovoltaic device operation
  • The ability to provide an elementary explanation of light-emitting diode operation
  • The ability to provide an elementary explanation of thermoelectric generator operation
  • The ability to provide an elementary explanation of piezoelectric transducer operation
  • The ability to analyze and critique proposed energy conversion mechanisms and devices
  • The ability to work in a multidisciplinary team in the preparation and oral presentation of a position paper

Instructor(s)

Tim Sands

Contribution of course to meeting the professional component: MSE 597E is a materials-specific technical elective course.

Prepared by: Elliott Slamovich

Date: April 26th, 2007