Kunihito Koumoto - Böcker

Papers from The American Ceramic Society's 31st International Conference on Advanced Ceramics and Composites, held in Daytona Beach, Florida, January 21-26, 2007. Topics include advances in dielectric, piezoelectric and ferroelectric materials; electroceramic materials for sensors; thermoelectric materials for power conversion applications; and transparent conductive oxides.

This volume provides a one-stop resource, compiling current research on developments in strategic materials. It is a collection of papers from The American Ceramic Society s 32nd International Conference on Advanced Ceramics and Composites, January 27-February 1, 2008. Papers included in this issue come from five symposia: "Thermoelectric Materials for Power Conversion;" "Basic Science of Multifunctional Ceramics;" "Science of Ceramic Interfaces;" "Geopolymers;" and "Materials for Solid State Lighting." This is a valuable, up-to-date resource for researchers working in the field.

Increasing awareness and concern for energy resources and the environment have stimulated significant advances in materials and technology for energy conversion in recent years. This volume, the ninth in a popular series, focuses on novel materials, materials processing and device technologies for direct thermal-to-electric energy conversion, and emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of research needed to advance the field. The volume begins with an overview of the state of the art in high-temperature thermoelectric materials by Harald Böttner. The section on nanocomposite materials includes an overview on bulk nanostructured materials, one of the most highly investigated areas in the thermoelectric community, by Mildred Dresselhaus. A third overview article, by Peter Rogl, addresses the potential of inverse clathrates for thermoelectric applications. Additional topics include: applications and devices; nanocomposite and nanostructured materials; theoretical investigations; bulk materials and oxide materials.

Increasing awareness and concern for energy resources and the environment have stimulated significant advances in materials and technology for energy conversion in recent years. This volume, the ninth in a popular series, focuses on novel materials, materials processing and device technologies for direct thermal-to-electric energy conversion, and emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of research needed to advance the field. The volume begins with an overview of the state of the art in high-temperature thermoelectric materials by Harald Böttner. The section on nanocomposite materials includes an overview on bulk nanostructured materials, one of the most highly investigated areas in the thermoelectric community, by Mildred Dresselhaus. A third overview article, by Peter Rogl, addresses the potential of inverse clathrates for thermoelectric applications. Additional topics include: applications and devices; nanocomposite and nanostructured materials; theoretical investigations; bulk materials and oxide materials.

Starting with the pioneering work of Volta, Seebeck, and Peltier on thermoelectric phenomena, it takes the reader through a historical journey of articles and books that have shaped the field of thermoelectricity, covering topics ranging from fundamental physics to novel materials.

Presently, there is an intense race throughout the world to develop good enough thermoelectric materials which can be used in wide scale applications. This book focuses comprehensively on very recent up-to-date breakthroughs in thermoelectrics utilizing nanomaterials and methods based in nanoscience. Importantly, it provides the readers with methodology and concepts utilizing atomic scale and nanoscale materials design (such as superlattice structuring, atomic network structuring and properties control, electron correlation design, low dimensionality, nanostructuring, etc.). Furthermore, also indicates the applications of thermoelectrics expected for the large emerging energy market. This book has a wide appeal and application value for anyone being interested in state-of-the-art thermoelectrics and/or actual viable applications in nanotechnology.