Improvement of Thermoelectric Properties of Nanostructure Embedded Thermoelectric Material Using Biological Fabrication Process

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26870370
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Energy engineering; Biofunction/Bioprocess
• Research Institution: Nara Institute of Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Uenuma Mutsunori 奈良先端科学技術大学院大学, 物質創成科学研究科, 助教 (20549092)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 熱電素子 / 酸化物 / 生体超分子 / ナノ粒子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Nanostructures were formed in oxide thermoelectric material using biological nanofabrication process in order to improve a thermoelectric properties. The electrical conductivity increased and the Seebeck coefficient deacreased due to introduced nanoparticles. As a result, the power factor of nanocomposite a-InGaZnO film was about three times larger than that of a-InGaZnO thin film. The increment did not strongly depend on the materials of nanoparticle. Additionally, the sample with a higher nanoparticles density shows a higher thermoelectric power factor. This result indicates that the increment of electrical conductivity was mainly formed by the defects at the interface of InGaZnO/nanoparticles. Finally, a transparent thermoelectric device was demonstrated using a-InGaZnO and ITO electrode.

Free Research Field

ナノバイオテクノロジー