Georgia Institute of Technology Materials Science and Engineering

Next-Generation Electrocaloric and Pyroelectric Materials for

Solid-State Electrothermal Energy Interconversion

 S. Pamir Alpay

Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Department of Physics,

and Institute of Materials Science

University of Connecticut

 Abstract

Thin film electrocaloric and pyroelectric electrothermal interconversion energy sources have recently emerged as viable means for power generation. This emergence is the result of two significant developments: (1) advancements in the formation of high quality polymeric and ceramic thin films with figures of merit that project system level performance as a large percentage of Carnot efficiency, and (2) the ability of these newer materials to support larger electric fields which permit operation at higher voltage; thus making the power electronic architectures more favorable for thermal to electric interconversion. * We will describe the current state-of-the-art materials, pointing to potential lines of modeling research that would lead to substantially better figures of merit for electrothermal interconversion. In particular, we will concentrate on how appropriate choices of the active material, substrate, growth or annealing temperature, and electrode configuration can be used to optimize electrothermal properties. 

* S. P. Alpay, J. V. Mantese, S. Trolier-McKinstry, Q. M. Zhang, and R. W. Whatmore, “Next Generation Electrocaloric and Pyroelectric Materials for Solid State Electrothermal Energy Interconversion,” MRS Bulletin 39, 1099-1109 (2014).

Short Bio

S. Pamir Alpay received his PhD in Materials Science and Engineering in 1999 from the University of Maryland. Alpay then joined the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) of the University of Connecticut (UConn) in 2001 as an Assistant Professor. Prof. Alpay is currently serving as the Department Head of MSE at UConn. His research focuses on materials for functional materials and multiscale materials modeling. Alpay received the NSF-CAREER Award in 2001 and the UConn School of Engineering Outstanding Junior Faculty Award in 2004. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, an elected member of the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE), and an Editor for the Journal of Materials Science. Alpay is the author of >140 publications in peer-reviewed journals, 20 peer-reviewed conference proceedings, four invited book chapters, and an invited book on compositionally graded ferroelectric materials. He delivered >70 invited talks/seminars in international meetings and at academic institutions, national laboratories, and industry.Reception at 3:30 pm in the MARC Atrium