| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/P020178/1 |
| Title: |
Silicon quantum dots in thermoelectric material applications |
| Principal Investigator: |
Chao, Dr Y |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Chemistry |
| Organisation: |
University of East Anglia |
| Scheme: |
Overseas Travel Grants (OTGS) |
| Starts: |
01 April 2017 |
Ends: |
30 September 2017 |
Value (£): |
6,930
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Materials Characterisation |
Quantum Optics & Information |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
| Panel Date | Panel Name | Outcome |
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07 Dec 2016
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EPSRC Physical Sciences - December 2016
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Announced
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Major advances in efficient, clean and secure energy conversion and use are needed if we are to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, for example to meet the EU's commitment of a reduction of 80% by 2050. Thermoelectric materials are able to take advantage of wasted or unutilized heat sources, such as in furnaces, car exhausts, and solar cells. As a result, thermoelectric materials have become an area of great interest. These materials are able to convert a temperature gradient into electrical power, and vice versa, without mechanical intervention. The power output from current commercial modules produced are however, modest, but power generated from these devices are then used elsewhere for low power applications, e.g. powering sensors or safety feedback loops. We have successfully synthesized Phenyl-acetylene functionalized Silicon quantum dots (SiQDs) which are showing potential to provide highly efficient thermoelectric materials. These conjugated ligands would allow transport of electrons through the conjugated orbitals. A preliminary characterization of this system, in the bulk, shows an electric conductivity in the region of 24 S.m-1, thermal conductivity 0.10 Wm-1K-1 and a Seebeck coefficient of 4148 muVK-1 at 300 K, with an estimated figure of merit ZT in the region of 0.6. Knowledge of the microscopic conduction rates and mechanisms of these materials would be invaluable in our attempts to improve these materials by design. The present application is to use the uniquely elegant method of Muon spectroscopy to measuring these microscopic properties.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.uea.ac.uk |