Manipulation of thermal phonons: a phononic crystal route to High-ZT thermoelectrics

Ihab El-Kady; Mehmet F. Su; Charles M. Reinke; Patrick E. Hopkins; Drew Goettler; Zayd C. Leseman; Eric A. Shaner; Roy H. Olsson III

doi:10.1117/12.891066

23 March 2011 Manipulation of thermal phonons: a phononic crystal route to High-ZT thermoelectrics

Ihab El-Kady, Mehmet F. Su, Charles M. Reinke, Patrick E. Hopkins, Drew Goettler, Zayd C. Leseman, Eric A. Shaner, Roy H. Olsson III

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7946, Photonic and Phononic Properties of Engineered Nanostructures; 794615 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.891066
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2011, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Phononic crystals (PnCs) are acoustic devices composed of a periodic arrangement of scattering centers embedded in a homogeneous background matrix with a lattice spacing on the order of the acoustic wavelength. When properly designed, a superposition of Bragg and Mie resonant scattering in the crystal results in the opening of a frequency gap over which there can be no propagation of elastic waves in the crystal, regardless of direction. In a fashion reminiscent of photonic lattices, PnC patterning results in a controllable redistribution of the phononic density of states. This property makes PnCs a particularly attractive platform for manipulating phonon propagation. In this communication, we discuss the profound physical implications this has on the creation of novel thermal phenomena, including the alteration of the heat capacity and thermal conductivity of materials, resulting in high-ZT materials and highly-efficient thermoelectric cooling and energy harvesting.

Citation Download Citation

Ihab El-Kady, Mehmet F. Su, Charles M. Reinke, Patrick E. Hopkins, Drew Goettler, Zayd C. Leseman, Eric A. Shaner, and Roy H. Olsson III "Manipulation of thermal phonons: a phononic crystal route to High-ZT thermoelectrics", Proc. SPIE 7946, Photonic and Phononic Properties of Engineered Nanostructures, 794615 (23 March 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.891066

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