IIT-Mandi makes strides in energy efficiency
Mandi, August 17
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi, have made strides in the fields of thermoelectric materials, which falls in the domain of thermal energy harvesting, using complex crystal structure and superionic conductors with poor thermal conductivity, unveiling insights that could significantly impact energy efficiency and sustainability.
Metals, commonly used in cooking utensils and electrical wiring, are known for their high thermal and electrical conductivity. However, thermoelectric materials challenge this norm by efficiently conducting electricity while being poor conductors of heat. This distinctive property makes them highly suitable for applications such as refrigeration, energy generation and thermal management in advanced electronics.
Dr Ajay Soni of the School of Physical Sciences and his research team — Dr Kewal Singh Rana, Aditya Singh, Nidhi, Animesh Bhui, Dr Chandan Bera and Prof Kanishka Biswas — have conducted an in-depth study on large-unit cell mineral chalcogenides.
These materials exhibit unique electronic and vibrational properties.
Dr Soni said, “Our research on the anharmonic rattling in sulfosalt tetrahedrites provides crucial insights at the atomic level for understanding the thermal conductivity on these solids. This advancement holds the potential to revolutionise thermoelectric materials, leading to more efficient cooling systems and energy recovery technologies. Our research is supported by the core research grant of Science and Engineering Research Board, now ANRF, Government of India.”
In a separate study, the team investigated superionic conductors that include silver and copper, known for their excellent ionic conductivity.
“This research at IIT-Mandi marks a major advancement in materials science by unveiling the origin of poor thermal properties. By elucidating how atomic vibrations influence thermal conductivity, the team’s work enables the design of materials with optimised thermal properties,” he added. — TNS
