Nanostructured thermoelectric oxide thin films for highly efficient energy conversion

• Project/Area Number: 26390103
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: General applied physics
• Research Institution: Muroran Institute of Technology (2015-2016); Hiroshima University (2014)
• Principal Investigator: Mele Paolo 室蘭工業大学, 工学研究科, 准教授 (70608504)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 宮崎 康次 九州工業大学, 大学院工学研究院, 教授 (70315159)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2016)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,940,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,140,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥2,860,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥660,000)
• Keywords: 熱電材料 / 酸化物 / 薄膜 / ナノ粒子 / 熱伝導率 / 熱電薄膜モジュール

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Efficiency of thermoelectric conversion in oxide thin film was investigated and very promising results were obtained. For example, n-type Al-doped ZnO (AZO) thin film processed by PLD (Pulsed Laser Deposition)method has shown the following characteristics: k = 4.89 W / m × K (1/7 of the bulk AZO) at 300 K, ZT = 0.045 (3 times larger than bulk AZO) [S. Saini, P. Mele et al. Japan. J. Appl. Phys. 53 (2014) 060306]. Then, a thermoelectric thin film module was fabricated on Al2O3, SrTiO3 crystal substrates and silica glass by PLD. The thermoelectric thin film module was composed by 5 legs of n type (Al 0.02 Zn 0.98 O) and 5 legs of p type (Ca3Co4O9) thin films. Maximum output power (Pmax) = 29.9 pW was obtained on Al2O3 single crystal substrate applying a temperature difference of 230 degrees (with high temperature of 300 degrees) [S. Saini, P. Mele, A. Tiwari et al, Energy Conv . And Manag. 114 (2016) 251].

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Polymer nano-composite films with inorganic upconversion phosphor and electro-optic additives made by concurrent triple-beam matrix assisted and direct pulsed laser deposition (2017)
  • Author(s): Abdalla M. Darwish, Shaelynn Moore, Aziz Mohammad, Deonte’ Alexander Tyler Bastian, Wydglif Dorlus’ Sergey S. Sarkisov, Darayas N. Patel, Paolo Mele, Brent Koplitz、David Hui
  • Journal Title: Composites B Volume: 109 Pages: 82-88
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2016.10.053
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Journal Article] Thermoelectric and Structural Characterization of Al-Doped ZnO/Y2O3 Multilayers (2017)
  • Author(s): P. Mele, S. Saini, A. Tiwari, P. E. Hopkins, K. Miyazaki, A. Ichinose, J. Niemela, and M. Karppinen
  • Journal Title: J. Nanosci. Nanotech Volume: 17 Pages: 1616-1620
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Journal Article] Nanostructured Oxide Thin Films for Sustainable Development (2017)
  • Author(s): Paolo Mele, Shiv J Singh, Shrikant Saini, Alok K Jha, Malik I Adam
  • Journal Title: Procedia Engineering Volume: 171 Pages: 201-206
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.proeng.2017.01.327
  • NAID: 120006705771
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Journal Article] Organic-inorganic nano-composite films for photonic applications made by multi-beam multi-target pulsed laser deposition with remote control of the plume directions (2016)
  • Author(s): Abdalla M. Darwish, Shaelynn Moore, Aziz Mohammad, Deonte’ Alexander Tyler Bastian, Wydglif Dorlus’ Sergey S. Sarkisov, Darayas N. Patel, Paolo Mele, Brent Koplitz
  • Journal Title: Proc. SPIE 9958 Volume: 9958 Pages: 995802-995802
  • DOI: 10.1117/12.2237538
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Journal Article] Effect of self-grown seed layer on thermoelectric properties of ZnO thin films (2016)
  • Author(s): S. Saini, P. Mele, H. Honda, T. Suzuki, K. Matsumoto, K. Miyazaki, A. Ichinose, L. Molina Luna, R. Carlini, A. Tiwari
  • Journal Title: Thin Solid Films Volume: 605 Pages: 289-294
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2015.09.060
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Journal Article] On-chip thermoelectric module comprised of oxide thin film legs (2016)
  • Author(s): S. Saini, P. Mele, K. Miyazaki, A. Tiwari
  • Journal Title: Energy Conversion and Management Volume: 114 Pages: 251-257
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2016.02.001
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Journal Article] Polymer-inorganic nanocomposite thin film emitters, optoelectronic chemical sensors, and energy harvesters produced by multiple-beam pulsed laser deposition (2015)
  • Author(s): Abdalla M Darwish, Simeon Wilson, Ashley Blackwell, Keylantra Taylor, Sergey Sarkisov, Darayas Patel, Paolo Mele, Michael W Johnson, Xiaodong Zhang, Brent Koplitz
  • Journal Title: Proc. SPIE 9586, Photonic Fiber and Crystal Devices: Advances in Materials and Innovations in Device Applications IX Volume: 9586 Pages: 1-5
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Nanostructured Thin Films of Thermoelectric Oxides (2015)
  • Author(s): P. Mele
  • Journal Title: Chapter 8 in "Oxide Thin Films, Multilayers and Nanocomposite", Springer Volume: chapter 8 Pages: 123-155
  • DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-14478-8_8
  • ISBN: 9783319144771, 9783319144788
  • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Journal Article] Thermoelectric properties of Al-doped ZnO thin films (2014)
  • Author(s): S.Saini, P. Mele, H. Honda, K.Matsumoto, K. Miyazaki, A. Ichinose
  • Journal Title: Journal of Electronic Materials Volume: 43 Issue: 6 Pages: 2145-2150
  • DOI: 10.1007/s11664-014-2992-x
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Enhanced thermoelectric performance of Al-doped ZnO thin films on amorphous substrate (2014)
  • Author(s): Saini, S., Mele, P., Honda, H., Henry, D. J., Hopkins, P. E., Molina-Luna, L., Matsumoto, K., Miyazaki, K., & Ichinose
  • Journal Title: Japan. J. Appl. Phys. Volume: 53 Issue: 6 Pages: 0603061-4
  • DOI: 10.7567/jjap.53.060306
  • NAID: 210000144001
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Influence of post-deposition cooling atmosphere on thermoelectric properties of 2% Al doped ZnO thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition (2014)
  • Author(s): Saini S., Mele P., Honda H., Matsumoto K., Miyazaki K., Molina-Luna L., & Hopkins P.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Electronic Materials Volume: 44 Issue: 6 Pages: 6-6
  • DOI: 10.1007/s11664-014-3471-0
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] Nanostructured thin films of superconducting and thermoelectric oxides for sustainable development (2016)
  • Author(s): Paolo Mele
  • Organizer: Symposium on Materials for Energy and Environment Sustainability
  • Place of Presentation: Shibaura IT, Tokyo, Japan
  • Year and Date: 2016-12-16
  • Invited
• [Presentation] Superconducting and thermoelectric oxide thin films for sustainable development (2016)
  • Author(s): Paolo Mele
  • Organizer: Invited talk at LANL, USA
  • Place of Presentation: LANL, Los Alamos, NM, USA
  • Year and Date: 2016-10-20
  • Invited
• [Presentation] Nanostructured oxide thin films for sustainable development (2016)
  • Author(s): Paolo Mele
  • Organizer: Invited talk at University of Utah, USA
  • Place of Presentation: University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
  • Year and Date: 2016-10-11
  • Invited
• [Presentation] Nanostructured zinc oxide thin films for thermoelectric applications (2016)
  • Author(s): Paolo Mele, Shiv J. Singh, Shrikant Saini, Ashutosh Tiwari, Abdalla Darwish, Malik I. Adam
  • Organizer: JSAP fall 2016
  • Place of Presentation: International conference center, Niigata, Japan
  • Year and Date: 2016-09-13
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Nanostructured oxide thin films for sustainable development (2016)
  • Author(s): Paolo Mele
  • Organizer: keynote, ICCE-24
  • Place of Presentation: New Yantai Hotel, Haikou, Hainan, China
  • Year and Date: 2016-07-17
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Nanostructured oxide thin films for sustainable development (2016)
  • Author(s): Paolo Mele
  • Organizer: invited talk at Javaharhal Nehru University, New Delhi，India
  • Place of Presentation: Javaharhal Nehru University，New Delhi，India
  • Year and Date: 2016-07-12
  • Invited
• [Presentation] Nanoengineered thin films of zinc oxide for thermoelectric energy harvesting (2016)
  • Author(s): P. Mele, S. Saini, K. Miyazaki, A. Ichinose, P. E. Hopkins, L. Molina-Luna, J. Shiomi, C. Li, T. Kawaharamura, M. Karppinen, J-P. Niemelä
  • Organizer: GiTe2016 “Giornate sulla termoelettricita`” (annual meeting of AIT- Italian Thermoelectric Association)
  • Place of Presentation: Pisa University, Pisa, Italy
  • Year and Date: 2016-02-24
• [Presentation] Nanostructured oxide thin films for sustainable development (2016)
  • Author(s): Paolo Mele
  • Organizer: Invited lecture at Politecnico of Torino
  • Place of Presentation: Polytechnic University of Torino, Torino, Italy
  • Year and Date: 2016-02-22
  • Invited
• [Presentation] Superconducting and thermoelectric oxide thin films for sustainable development (2015)
  • Author(s): Paolo Mele
  • Organizer: Invited lecture at Dongguk University
  • Place of Presentation: Dongguk University, Seul, Korea
  • Year and Date: 2015-11-20
  • Invited
• [Presentation] Nanostructured oxide thin films for sustainable development: superconductors and thermoelectrics (2015)
  • Author(s): P. Mele, S. Saini, X. Obradors, H. Honda, K. Matsumoto, K. Miyazaki, A. Ichinose, L. Molina-Luna, P.E. Hopkins, M. I. Adam, J. Shiomi, C. Li, T. Kawaharamura
  • Organizer: IUMRS-ICAM 2015
  • Place of Presentation: Jeju International Convention Center, Jeju island, Korea
  • Year and Date: 2015-10-26
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Fabrication and testing of compact thermoelectric module based on ZnO and Ca3Co4O9 thin films (2015)
  • Author(s): Paolo Mele, Shrikant Saini, Hiroaki Honda, Takashi Suzuki, Kaname Matsumoto, Koji Miyazaki
  • Organizer: JSAP Fall 2015
  • Place of Presentation: Nagoya Congress Center, Nagoya, Japan
  • Year and Date: 2015-09-14
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Superconducting And Thermoelectric Oxide Thin Films For Sustainable Development (2015)
  • Author(s): Paolo Mele, S. Saini, A. Kamegawa, Y. Mawatari, X. Obradors, H. Honda, T. Suzuki, K.Matsumoto, K. Miyazaki, A. Ichinose, L. Molina Luna, P.E. Hopkins, M. I. Adam
  • Organizer: ICCE-24
  • Place of Presentation: California Garden Hotel, Chengdu, China
  • Year and Date: 2015-07-12
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Correlation between strain energy and thermoelectric performance of Al-doped ZnO thin films deposited on different substrates (2015)
  • Author(s): Paolo Mele, Shrikant Saini, Hiroaki Honda, Takashi Suzuki, Koji Miyazaki, Kaname Matsumoto, Ataru Ichinose, Leopoldo Molina-Luna, Patrick E. Hopkins
  • Organizer: MRS Spring Meeting 2015
  • Place of Presentation: Moscone Congress Center, San Francisco, USA
  • Year and Date: 2015-04-06
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Epitaxial thin films of ZnAlO for thermoelectric applications (2015)
  • Author(s): P. Mele
  • Organizer: SPARCA 2015
  • Place of Presentation: Taipei, Taiwan
  • Year and Date: 2015-02-08 – 2015-02-11
  • Invited
• [Presentation] AlドープZnO薄膜の熱電特性に及ぼす基板の影響 (2014)
  • Author(s): 本田裕明，S.Saini，P. Mele
  • Organizer: TSJ 2014
  • Place of Presentation: Tsukuba
  • Year and Date: 2014-09-29 – 2014-09-30
• [Presentation] Inorganic-organic Composite for a Flexible Thermoelectric Device (2014)
  • Author(s): K. Miyazaki
  • Organizer: 7th Taiwan-Japan Workshop on Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  • Place of Presentation: Taiwan National University, Taipei, Taiwan
  • Year and Date: 2014-09-12 – 2014-09-15
  • Invited
• [Presentation] Thin films and multilayers of zinc oxide for thermoelectric applications (2014)
  • Author(s): . Mele, S.Saini, H. Honda, K. Matsumoto, K. Miyazaki, H. Hagino, A. Ichinose, L. Molina, P. E. Hopkins, J. E. Ihlefeld
  • Organizer: IUMRS-ICA 2014
  • Place of Presentation: Fukuoka
  • Year and Date: 2014-08-24 – 2014-08-30
  • Invited
• [Presentation] Thermoelectric properties of ZnO thin films deposited on amorphous substrates (2014)
  • Author(s): P. Mele, S. Saini, H. Honda, K. Matsumoto, K. Miyazaki, H. Hagino, A. Ichinose
  • Organizer: IUMRS-ICEM 2014
  • Place of Presentation: Taipei, Taiwan
  • Year and Date: 2014-06-10 – 2014-06-14
  • Invited
• [Presentation] Effect of deposition temperature on thermoelectric performance of Al-doped ZnO thin films (2014)
  • Author(s): S.Saini, P. Mele, H. Honda, K. Matsumoto, K. Miyazaki, H. Hagino, A. Ichinose, L. Molina, P. E. Hopkins, J. E. Ihlefeld
  • Organizer: IUMRS-ICEM 2014
  • Place of Presentation: Taipei, Taiwan
  • Year and Date: 2014-06-10 – 2014-06-14
• [Book] Correlated Functional Oxides - Nanocomposites and Heterostructures (2017)
  • Author(s): H. Nishikawa, N. Iwata, T. Endo, Y. Takamura, G. H. Lee, P. Mele (editors)
  • Total Pages: 232
  • Publisher: Springer Nature
• [Book] Oxide Thin Films, Multilayers and Nanocomposites (2015)
  • Author(s): P. Mele, C. Li, S. Arisawa, T. Tsuchiya, T. Endo （Editors）
  • Total Pages: 316
  • Publisher: Springer
• [Remarks] Paolo Mele research web site
  • URL: http://www3.muroran-it.ac.jp/oxides/
• [Remarks] Paolo Mele istitutional web site
  • URL: http://rdsoran.muroran-it.ac.jp/html/100000038_en.html?k=Mele
• [Remarks] Paolo Mele google scholar profile
  • URL: http://scholar.google.it/citations?user=qWiNmvMAAAAJ
• [Remarks] Paolo Mele Laboratory
  • URL: http://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/pmele/index.html
• [Remarks] Institute for Sustainable Research and Development
  • URL: http://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/rcsd/
• [Patent(Industrial Property Rights)] Nano-composite thermo-electric energy converter and fabrication method thereof (2014)
  • Inventor(s): A. Darwish, P. Mele, S. Sarkisov
  • Industrial Property Rights Holder: A. Darwish, P. Mele, S. Sarkisov
  • Industrial Property Rights Type: 特許
  • Filing Date: 2014-09-14
  • Acquisition Date: 2016-02-25
  • Overseas