This book explores a key technology regarding the importance of connections via an Internet of Things network and how this helps us to easily communicate with others and gather information. Namely, what would happen if this suddenly became unavailable due to a shortage of power or electricity? Using thermoelectric generators is a viable solution as they use the heat around us to generate the much-needed electricity for our technological needs. This first volume explores the computational and data-driven development of these thermoelectric generators, as well as the use of various abundant materials such as copper and silver chalcogenides and nanocarbons. It also offers reviews on universal property enhancement principles and the case of strongly correlated oxides, and goes on to explore the metrology of the thermal properties of thermoelectric generators, detailing methods of how to measure the absolute Seebeck coefficient using the Thomson effect and the thermal diffusivity of thin films using the ultrafast laser flash method.

This book explores a key technology regarding the importance of connections via an Internet of Things network and how this helps us to easily communicate with others and gather information. Namely, what would happen if this suddenly became unavailable due to a shortage of power or electricity? Using thermoelectric generators is a viable solution as they use the heat around us to generate the much-needed electricity for our technological needs. This second volume on the challenges and prospects of thermoelectric generators covers the reliability and durability of thermoelectric materials and devices, the effect of microstructures on the understanding of electronic properties of complex materials, thermoelectric nanowires, the impact of chemical doping or magnetism, thermoelectric generation using the anomalous Nernst effect, phonon engineering, the current state and future prospects of thermoelectric technologies, transition metal silicides, and past, present and future applications of thermoelectrics.

Ten years ago, D.M. Rowe introduced the bestselling CRC Handbook of Thermoelectrics to wide acclaim. Since then, increasing environmental concerns, desire for long-life electrical power sources, and continued progress in miniaturization of electronics has led to a substantial increase in research activity involving thermoelectrics. Reflecting the latest trends and developments, the Thermoelectrics Handbook: Macro to Nano is an extension of the earlier work and covers the entire range of thermoelectrics disciplines. Serving as a convenient reference as well as a thorough introduction to thermoelectrics, this book includes contributions from 99 leading authorities from around the world. Its coverage spans from general principles and theoretical concepts to material preparation and measurements; thermoelectric materials; thermoelements, modules, and devices; and thermoelectric systems and applications. Reflecting the enormous impact of nanotechnology on the field-as the thermoelectric properties of nanostructured materials far surpass the performance of conventional materials-each section progresses systematically from macro-scale to micro/nano-scale topics. In addition, the book contains an appendix listing major manufacturers and suppliers of thermoelectric modules. There is no longer any need to spend hours plodding through the journal literature for information. The Thermoelectrics Handbook: Macro to Nano offers a timely, comprehensive treatment of all areas of thermoelectrics in a single, unified reference.

Authoritative account of recent developments in thermoelectric materials and devices for power energy harvesting applications, ideal for researchers and industrialists in materials science.

This book introduces an innovative and high-efficiency technology for mechanical energy harvesting. The book covers the history and development of triboelectric nanogenerators, basic structures, working principles, performance characterization, and potential applications. It is divided into three parts: Part A illustrates the fundamental working modes of triboelectric nanogenerators with their prototype structures and theoretical analysis; Part B and Part C introduce two categories of applications, namely self-powered systems and self-powered active sensors. The book will be an ideal guide to scientists and engineers beginning to study triboelectric nanogenerators or wishing to deepen their knowledge of the field. Readers will be able to place the technical details about this technology in context, and acquire the necessary skills to reproduce the experimental setups for fabrication and measurement.

It is well-known that fossil fuels are being rapidly depleted, and that atomic power is rejected by many people. As a consequence, there is a strong trend towards alternative sources such as wind, photovoltaics, solar heat and biomass. Strangely enough, quite another power source is generally neglected: namely, the thermoelectric generator (a device which converts heat, i.e. thermal energy, directly into electrical energy). The reason for this neglect is probably the low conversion efficiency, which is of the order of a few percent at most. However, there are two arguments in favor of the thermoelectric generator. Firstly, we might in effect be at the same point as we were in the early stages of photovoltaics use (it was only in 1954 that the first attractive solar cells, with efficiencies of around 4% were produced). Today, even large modules attain 20%. Secondly, the potential applications of thermoelectric generators are very tempting. Wherever heat is generated, it is amenable to electrical conversion. Energy harvesting via a thermoelectric generator may be accompanied by a further benefit: The use of a solar module inevitably leads to a drastic temperature rise. A thermoelectric generator reduces the temperature rise and therefore offers a double benefit.

Microfabrication is the key technology behind integrated circuits,microsensors, photonic crystals, ink jet printers, solar cells andflat panel displays. Microsystems can be complex, but the basicmicrostructures and processes of microfabrication are fairlysimple. Introduction to Microfabrication shows how the commonmicrofabrication concepts can be applied over and over again tocreate devices with a wide variety of structures andfunctions. Featuring: * A comprehensive presentation of basic fabrication processes * An emphasis on materials and microstructures, rather than devicephysics * In-depth discussion on process integration showing how processes,materials and devices interact * A wealth of examples of both conceptual and real devices Introduction to Microfabrication includes 250 homework problems forstudents to familiarise themselves with micro-scale materials,dimensions, measurements, costs and scaling trends. Both researchand manufacturing topics are covered, with an emphasis on silicon,which is the workhorse of microfabrication. This book will serve as an excellent first text for electricalengineers, chemists, physicists and materials scientists who wishto learn about microstructures and microfabrication techniques,whether in MEMS, microelectronics or emerging applications.