Nanoscale Thermoelectric Energy Conversion Devices and Interdisciplinary Sustainability Education

Dr. Ali Shakouri
Mary Jo and Robert L. Kirk Director Birck Nanotechnology Center and Professor of Electrical and
Computer Engineering
Purdue University

Energy consumption in our society is increasing rapidly. A significant fraction of the energy is lost in the form of heat. In this talk we describe thermoelectric devices that allow direct conversion of heat into electricity. Novel nanocomposites are developed where the heat and charge transport are modified at the atomic level. Potential to increase the energy conversion efficiency and bring the cost down to $0.10-0.20/W will be discussed. I also describe some of our sustainability education activities. Although awareness of sustainability problems has increased significantly in recent years, major gaps remain in society’s willingness to implement the necessary changes. We describe our efforts to increase interactions between students from engineering and social sciences as well as an international exchange program.