Design Of Materials For Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting In IoT Devices: A Materials Modelling Perspective (Energy Harvesting Europe 2017)

Thermoelectric materials could play a critical role in powering autonomous wireless sensor networks due to their ability to convert waste heat to electricity. However, it is challenging to create efficient thermoelectric materials due to the conflicting requirements for the desired material properties (high electrical conductivity and low thermal conductivity). Further progress depends on the development of new material design concepts and accurate modelling tools that can predict the performance of new materials. In this talk, I will demonstrate the predictive power of our state-of-the-art modelling tools, and give examples how they can be used to guide the synthesis of new materials. I will also illustrate how we can develop new strategies to design more efficient thermoelectric materials using the insight gained from simulations.

Dr. Ivana Savic is a Staff Researcher at the Materials Theory Group, Tyndall National Institute, Cork, Ireland. She has 13 years of experience in the development of predictive material modelling tools and material design concepts for thermoelectric, heat management and optoelectronic applications. She has been awarded Science Foundation Ireland Starting and Principal Investigator grants to develop research activities on the theory and modelling of thermoelectric materials at the Tyndall Institute. She has published papers in leading journals, including Nature Materials, and has been an invited speaker at many international conferences.

The Tyndall National Institute at University College Cork is a leading European centre in integrated ICT (Information and Communications Technology) research. Specialising in electronics and photonics, our mission is to deliver economic impact through research excellence. We work with industry and academia to transform research into products in our core market areas of electronics, communications, energy, health, agri-food and the environment. Tyndall generates approximately €35m in income each year, has a network of over 200 industry partners and customers worldwide, the institute employs 500 staff, including 120 full-time graduate students. Tyndall plays a very active role in Horizon 2020, and produces almost 300 peer-reviewed publications annually.