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CORDIS

MaGnesium Alloys for effICient solId stAte cooliNg

Project description

Europe in search of sustainable thermoelectric

Efficient and sustainable heating and cooling face challenges due to thermoelectric modules that depend on scarce and toxic tellurium. One eco-friendly thermoelectric application solution is magnesium, which is an abundant, cost-effective, and non-toxic element. However, issues in materials synthesis, device design, and large-scale production still exist. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the MGICIAN project aims to collaborate with academic and industrial partners throughout Europe to train doctoral candidates in solid-state cooling research. It will combine practical experience with skills from materials engineering to ethics and entrepreneurship. MGICIAN seeks to drive innovation in thermoelectric coolers and prepare a new generation of research leaders to speed up Europe’s adoption of scalable, low-carbon energy systems.

Objective

Thermoelectrics (TEs) could offer high-performing, efficient, durable and sustainable power-generation and heating/cooling solutions to catalyse the transition to a low-carbon economy, but current state-of-the-art TE modules rely on the toxic and scarce element tellurium. While TE materials based on magnesium, which is abundant and non-toxic, have recently emerged as a potential alternative, there are many challenges related to materials synthesis and performance, device design, fabrication and reliability, and economic and scaling viability, which need to be solved. MGICIAN will address these challenges by: i) bringing together a unique synergy of academic and industrial partners that are leaders in the field of ThermoElectric Coolers (TEC), ii) designing an immersive, interdisciplinary, inter-sectorial, and international research and training program, iii) recruiting, training and mentoring 15 Doctoral Candidates (DCs) in cutting-edge research and innovation in TE-based solid-state cooling for a low-carbon, sustainable future, and providing them with a broad set of skills to succeed in academic and industry careers. The consortium will include 14 academic institutions, one industry-near academic institute and 4 industry companies from different EU countries (DE, ES, IE, PT, CY, FR, and DK) plus UK. They will offer DCs top-tier supervision and training through interdisciplinary collaborations in TE material synthesis, TEC module fabrication, and system integration for scalable solid-state cooling applications up to TRL 6. Alongside scientific skills, DCs will be trained in ethics, entrepreneurship, project management, intellectual property, and communication, with industry secondments providing practical experience. MGICIAN aims to prepare future research leaders and entrepreneurs in TECs, enhancing Europe’s capacity to develop sustainable TE-based solutions.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-DN - HORIZON TMA MSCA Doctoral Networks

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-DN-01

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Coordinator

LEIBNIZ INSTITUT FUR FESTKORPER UND WERKSTOFFORSCHUNG DRESDEN EV
Net EU contribution
€ 580 544,64
Address
HELMHOLTZSTRASSE 20
01069 Dresden
Germany
Region
Sachsen Dresden Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost
No data

Participants (10)

Partners (8)