Project description
Metal-organic perovskites for efficient thermoelectricity
Thermoelectric materials can directly convert heat into electrical energy and vice versa. Performant thermoelectric devices could be used to recover waste heat in manufacturing, heavy transportation and cogeneration to reduce energy demand and greenhouse gas footprint. Tin selenide (SnSe) is the most advanced material for next-generation thermoelectrics, due to its high thermoelectric performance and intrinsic layered structure. However, its large scale production is highly expensive. The EU-funded THERMOH project will seek to find efficient thermoelectrics in the class of metal-organic single and double halide perovskites, which are intensely studied due to their photovoltaic efficiency and good electrical properties. They can be produced at low costs at scale, while their lattice vibrations are very anharmonic and tunable, allowing planning low thermal conductivity.
Objective
Thermoelectric materials convert thermal and electrical energy, and performant thermoelectric devices could be used to recover waste heat in manufacturing, cogeneration, and heavy transportation - reducing both energy requirements and greenhouse gases' footprint.
Solid-state cooldown would also change refrigeration technologies, in both efficiency and maintenance. Broadly speaking, a materials' breakthrough in thermoelectrics would have an impact on energy efficiency similar to nitride LEDs for lightning technologies.
Optimal thermoelectrics need to balance the contrasting requirements of good electrical conductivity and low thermal conductivity; nowadays the best bulk thermoelectric approaching the desired efficiency is SnSe. However, large-scale production is too expensive, and applications remain limited to niche markets.
The goal of this project is to find efficient thermoelectrics in the class of metal-organic single and double halide perovskites.
These are intensely studied for their photovoltaic efficiency, thanks also to their good electrical properties; they can be manufactured inexpensively at scale; and their lattice vibrations are very anharmonic and tunable, allowing to engineer low thermal conductivity.
Since the overall number of possible compounds is above 500, there is wide chemical tunability of their properties. However, due to both theoretical and experimental difficulties, thermoelectric efficiency has been investigated only in very few compounds. Thanks to the unique capabilities I have developed during my PhD to study from first-principles materials with very large anharmonic distortions, I will investigate the full chemical space of these perovskites in the quest for the most efficient thermoelectric. Success in the project would bring major advantages to the industrial and economic EU ecosystem, but will also cement my leadership in characterizing and designing electrical and thermal properties of far from equilibrium materials.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering thermodynamic engineering heat engineering
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1015 Lausanne
Switzerland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.