Highly efficient materials for thermoelectric energy conversion are developed and substance specific material problems of joining as well as system aspects of thermoelectric generators (TEG) and sensors are studied in a close link to the department “Thermoelectric Materials and Systems” of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Cologne. Target applications are located in aerospace, automotive and energy. Material developments focus on nano-structured thermoelectrics including complex chalcogenides (PbTe- und SnTe-based), antimonides (CoSb3-based Skutterudites, zinc antimonide), silicides (mainly Mg2(Si,Sn,Ge)) and half-Heusler compounds. Unique characterisation methods for functional properties in dependence on temperature and local position as well as for testing of TEG modules are used and improved. Aiming at industrial manufacturability, powder-based material technologies and high temperature stabile joining techniques for thermoelectric modules are developed.
Contact
Prof. Dr. Wolf Eckhard Müller
Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry
Phone: +49 2203 601-3556 Fax: +49 2203 696480
DLR Institute of Materials Research, Linder Höhe, 51147 Köln, Room
