Objective Efforts are made to harness cheap, inexhaustible, eco-friendly renewable sources of energy. Among them, thermoelectric (TE) conversion is a promising source of non-conventional energy. A wide range of materials has been tested for TE purposes. Application of non-conventional semiconductors in TE power generators, cooling units and thermostats, IR detectors etc. stimulate search for superior materials. Bismuth chalcogenide alloys represent suitable candidates for these applications. The essential material parameter, the TE figure of merit, depends on the material's Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity.The main aim of TE materials research is to improve the figure of merit, which essentially depends on the nature of carrier and phonon scattering in the material. Thus the theoretical target of the proposal is to investigate qualitatively the nature of carrier scattering in bismuth telluride / lead selenide quaternary alloys and to estimate the extent of non-lattice scattering contributions contained. To improve the figure of merit by reducing the thermal conductivity, elements with higher atomic weight will be selected to be involved in chalcogenide compounds. Starting from the synthesis of bulk and thin film material, experimental work will optimise the figure of merit of deposited layered thin films ending up to development of device technology for thermopiles.Effects of low-dimensional transports related to nano-size layered intermittent films will be exploited as a powerful tool to further reduce the thermal conductivity. Characterization of thin films will be accomplished by XRD, SEAD (structure), TEM, SEM (morphology), EDAX (analysis). Having achieved single phase purity and target composition of the films, Seebeck coefficient, electrical resistivity, and thermal conductivity will be measured in dependence on temperature for optimisation of the figure of merit. Finally, the performance of thin film thermopiles will be tested. Fields of science engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcrystalsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesatomic physicsengineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and filmsengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsenergy conversion Keywords Functional properties Nano Nano-layered films Optimization of composition and doping Structural analysis Thermal conductivity Thermal sensors Thermoelectric energy conversion Thin film deposition Programme(s) FP6-MOBILITY - Human resources and Mobility in the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration "Structuring the European Research Area" under the Sixth Framework Programme 2002-2006 Topic(s) MOBILITY-2.3 - Marie Curie Incoming International Fellowships (IIF) Call for proposal FP6-2004-MOBILITY-7 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme IIF - Marie Curie actions-Incoming International Fellowships Coordinator DEUTSCHES ZENTRUM FÜR LUFT- UND RAUMFAHRT E.V. [GERMAN AEROSPACE CENTER (DLR)] Address Köln Germany See on map Links Website Opens in new window EU contribution No data