Physics Commons^™

Investigation Into Reduced Thermal Conductivity For Half-Heusler Alloys And Identification Of Novel Multinary Chalcogenides Possessing Intrinsically Low Thermal Conductivity, Dean Hobbis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The current climate makes the need for sustainable energy production a priority, leading to keen interest towards the advancement of “green” energy sources and technology. This necessity has led to a multidisciplinary scientific approach with collaborations across various fields that are looking to solve this extremely important problem. One such technology is thermoelectric devices, which are attractive due to the fact that they provide direct solid-state conversion of heat to electrical power, and vice versa. This in turn allows for both waste heat recovery and sustainable refrigeration. One key aspect that is preventing the wide scale commercial use of thermoelectric …

Skutterudite Derivatives: A Fundamental Investigation With Potential For Thermoelectric Applications, Kaya Wei

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Thermoelectric devices allow for direct conversion of heat into electricity as well as solid-state refrigeration. The skutterudite family of compounds continues to be of considerable interest both scientifically and technologically due to their unique physical properties, in particular as promising thermoelectric materials. In this thesis, the basic thermoelectric phenomena and some background history on skutterudites will be reviewed. Rhombohedral derivatives of the cubic skutterudite CoSb3, namely Co4-xFexGe6Se6 with x=0, 1, 1.5 (p-type) and rare-earth filled Ce0.13Co4Ge6Se6 and Yb0.14Co4Ge6Se6 (n-type), were synthesized and their synthesis and low temperature transport properties will be discussed.

Reitveld refinement and elemental analysis were used to …

Growth And Characterization Of Functional Nanoparticulate Films By A Microwave Plasma-Assisted Spray Deposition Process, Ted Wangensteen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nanoparticle and nanoparticulate films have been grown by a unique approach combining a microwave and nebulized droplets where the concentration and thus the resulting particle size can be controlled. The goal of such a scalable approach was to achieve it with the least number of steps, and without using expensive high purity chemicals or the precautions necessary to work with such chemicals. This approach was developed as a result of first using a laser unsuccessfully to achieve the desired films and particles. Some problems with the laser approach for growing desired films were solved by substituting the higher energy microwave …