Molecular Foundry Seminar
"Tuning Phonons in Molecular Foundry"
Professor Massoud Kaviany, Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Physics,
University of Michigan,
Tuesday, September 28 at 1:30 pm, Bldg. 67 - Rm. 3111
Abstract:
Thermal motion (e.g., atomic vibration in solids) can be tuned by atomic composition-structure selection for optimal energy storage, transport and conversion. We consider phonon, electron, and photon as energy carriers, with a broad reach of the role of thermal motion and creation of nonequilibirium phonon population and design its density of states. We will give examples tuned phonons in energy transport, thermoelectricity, and photovoltaic, as in (i) atomic restructuring in phonon boundary resistance, (ii) phonon tuning in high figure-of-merit thermoelectric materials, (iiii) phonon recycling in lasers, and (iv) phonon-assisted photon absorption in photovoltaics. The theoretical treatments include ab initio and molecular dynamic calculations, and second-order transitions kinetics.
Purpose : Thermal motion (e.g., vibration), in solids can be tuned by atomic composition-structure selection (molecular foundry) for optimal energy storage, transport and conversion. Today we will consider phonon, electron, and photon as energy carriers.
The goal here is a broad reach of the role of thermal motion and how we can create nonequilibirium energy carrier population and design its density of states. It is a quest in thermal-heat transfer physics and its applications.
We will give examples of phenomena and applications already researched, under studies, and future research:
- Atomic restructuring and phonon boundary resistance
- Phonon tuning in high figure of merit thermoelectrics
- Phonon recycling in lasers
- Phonon-assisted photon absorption in photovoltaics
Theoretical treatments include ab initio and molecular dynamic calculations.
