PhD Xinyu Liu, Semiconductor Materials Division, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Sweden

A new SiC and graphene composite as high temperature thermoelectric material

Thermoelectric generators can convert waste heat and heat from renewable sources into electrical power. About two-thirds of all energy used worldwide relies on combustion processes which dissipate large amounts of heat. Thermoelectric generators can make these processes much more efficient, improving their sustainability, and reducing cost, as well as reducing CO₂ emissions. Traditional thermoelectric materials such as Bi₂Te₃, PbTe, and SiGe easily become oxidized, decompose or melt above 1000 °C, which significantly limit their applicability. For effective utilization of solar heat, nuclear energy and waste heat from industries, materials processing high thermoelectric energy conversion efficiency specifically applicable at high temperature above 1000 °C are required. Therefore, we propose a new approach to explore a novel material system by controlled growth of graphene on silicon carbide. This could be applied as new thermoelectric material which has advantages in high temperature regions.