Motivati

on

Energy and Nanotechnology

Gang Chen
Rohsenow Heat and Mass Transfer Laboratory
Mechanical Engineering Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA 02139

Sources

http://www.sc.doe.gov

Nano for Energy

Increased surface area
Interface and size effects
Molecules
nm
=1 nm

---Mean
free path
---wavelength

Electrons
=10-100 nm
=10-50 nm

Photons
nm
=0.1-10 m

Phonons
=10-100 nm
=1 nm

Nanoscience Research for Energy Needs

Catalysis by nanoscale materials
Using interfaces to manipulate energy
carriers
Linking structures and function at the
nanoscale
Assembly and architecture of
nanoscale structures
Theory, modeling, and simulation for
energy nanosciences
Scalable synthesis methods
National Nanotechnology Initiative Grand Challenge Workshop, March, 2004

Examples

Grtzel cell for photovoltaic

generation and water splitting
Radiation transport to maximize
absorption
Two phase flow
Electrochemical transport
Multiscale, multiphysics transport

Catalytic nanostructured
hydrogen storage materials

Mass transport
Heat transfer (intake and release)
Small scale thermodynamics
Two phase flow
Multiscale and multiphysics

Thermoelectrics Devices
I
I

I
N

Diffusion

Hot Side

Cold Side

Power Generation
Figure of Merit:
Electrical
Conductivity

ZT

Seebeck
Coefficient
2

S T
ke kp

Electron
Phonon
Thermal Conductivity

COLD SIDE

Media Clip
HOT SIDE

Refrigeration
Power Generation:
T(hot)=500 C, T (cold)=50 C
ZT=1, Efficiency = 8 %
ZT=3, Efficiency =17 %
ZT=5, Efficiency =22 %

Critical Challenges:
Reduce phonon heat conduction while
maintaining or enhancing electron transport

Nanoscale Effects for Thermoelectrics

Interfaces that Scatter Phonons but not Electrons

Electrons
=10-100 nm
=10-50 nm

Phonons
=10-100 nm
=1 nm

Electron
Molecular Dynamics (Freund)

Phonon

State-of-the-Art in Thermoelectrics

FIGURE OF MERIT (ZT)

max

3.0

PbTe/PbSeTe Nano

PbSeTe/PbTe
Quantum-dot
Superlattices
(Lincoln Lab)

S2 (W/cmK2)
k (W/mK)

AgPbmSbTe2+m
(Kanatzadis)

1.5
1.0

Bi2Te3/Sb2Te3
Superlattices
(RTI)
Bi2Te3 alloy
PbTe alloy

0.5
0.0
1940

Si0.8Ge0.2 alloy
1960

1980
YEAR

Skutterudites
(Fleurial)

Dresselhaus
2000

28
2.5

ZT (T=300K)
1.6
0.3
Harman et al., Science (2003)

2.5
2.0

32
0.6

Bulk

2020

Bi2Te3/Sb2Te3

Nano

Bulk

S2 (W/cmK2)
k (W/mK)

40
0.6

50.9
1.45

ZT (T=300K)
2.4
1.0
Venkatasubramanian et al.,
Nature, 2002.

Potential Applications
Transportation

Mechanical losses
9kJ

Exhaust
Gasoline
100 kJ
Gasoline
100kJ10kJ

Mechanical losses
10kJ

9kJ
30kJ
30kJ

6kJ
10kJ
35kJ
35kJ

6kJ

Driving
Driving
Auxiliary
Auxiliary

10kJ

Parasitic
heat losses Coolant
Parasitic
heat losses Coolant

Oil or
Oil or
Natl Gas
Natl Gas

Exhaust
Exhaust

Entropy
Entropy
Losses
Thermal
Heating
Thermal
PowerPower Heating
TPV & TE Recovery

Refrigeration
Refrigeration
& &
Electrical
Electrical
Power Power
Appliances
Appliances
Electricity
Electricity

PV

In US,
transportation
uses ~26% of
total energy.
10% energy
conversion
efficiency
= 26% increase
in useful energy

Residential
In US, residential
and commercial
buildings consume
~35% energy supply

Challenges and Opportunities

Mass production of nanomaterials
Energy systems: high heat flux

Nanomaterials are trans-boundary

Basic energy research leads to
breakthroughs
Transports (molecular, continuum) are
crucial
Inter-departmental collaborations