Motivation: Conventional thermal-to-electrical energy conversion technologies based on inorganic crystalline semiconductors cannot produce useful electrical power from the most common sources of waste heat because either the power conversion efficiency is very low at the temperature of the source, device fabrication is unfeasible or too expensive, or the rigid devices cannot be adapted to the non-planar geometry of the available space.

Aims: To develop new materials and methods of generating useful electrical power from these sources of waste heat: i) the 42% of solar power that cannot be converted by silicon solar cells but is lost as heat, ii) the 25% of industrial waste heat stored in fluids flowing in pipes at temperatures less than 250 °C, iii) heat dissipated by the human body at 37 °C, and iv) the heat dissipated by microelectronic devices (PCs, laptops, netbooks, etc.), which have components that operate at approximately 80 °C.

Methods: Individual projects will investigate the physical basis of the thermal-to-electrical energy conversion processes in materials by measurement and microscopy, and attempt to make and test prototype devices. The projects will consider conversion of constant flows of both conducted and radiated heat to electrical energy, and time-varying (fluctuating) transmission of heat. The most the most common flows of waste heat fluctuate and loose energy through both conduction and radiation so more than one approach to energy conversion may be needed so we will also need to consider hybrid devices which combine two or more approaches to thermal-to-electrical energy conversion.

Training: The student will gain experience of laboratory methods for the thermal and electrical characterisation of materials and knowledge of how to use new materials to make useful thermal-to-electrical energy conversion devices. You will receive expert training in the specialised experimental techniques.