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TM Materials Science Volume 6, Number 4 Materials for Energy Efficiency Thermoelectrics, Thin Films, and Phosphors Thermoelectric Performance of Perovskite-type Oxide Materials Silicides: Promising Thermoelectric Materials Combinatorial Materials Science Hot Research, Cool Results for Energy Applications Lanthanide Ions as Photon Managers for Solar Cells Introduction TM Vol. 6, No. 4 Welcome to the fourth issue of Material Matters™ for 2011, focusing on Materials for Energy Efficiency: Thermoelectrics, Thin Films and Phosphors. Aldrich Materials Science Global energy demands are continuing to increase. To date, fossil Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC fuels have served as a major energy source, to meet these ever 6000 N. Teutonia Ave. growing energy needs. It is generally accepted that while fossil fuel Milwaukee, WI 53209, USA technology is well developed, it is not sustainable and its subsequent carbon footprint is the contributing factor to global warming. Climate Introduction change, increasing energy demands and depletion of conventional Meenakshi Hardi, Ph.D. To Place Orders energy sources all indicate that alternative energy must play a bigger Aldrich Materials Science role in the future. Alternative energy sources are renewable, and Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC Telephone 800-325-3010 (USA) environmentally clean. These include solar power, hydrogen energy, FAX 800-325-5052 (USA) and biofuel as well as wind, hydroelectric and geothermal energy. Customer & Technical Services In addition to developing alternative energy sources to meet growing energy requirements, Customer Inquiries 800-325-3010 it is equally important to improve the efficiency of energy generation. Energy efficiency and Technical Service 800-231-8327 alternative energy are said to be the “twin pillars” of sustainable energy policy. Approximately SAFC® 800-244-1173 90% of the world’s electricity is generated by thermal energy, typically operating at only Custom Synthesis 800-244-1173 30–40% efficiency, losing a major portion of the energy in the form of radiant heat to the Flavors & Fragrances 800-227-4563 environment. Materials exhibiting the thermoelectric effect, a phenomenon in which a International 414-438-3850 temperature difference creates an electric potential or vice versa, can convert some of this 24-Hour Emergency 414-438-3850 lost heat into useful electricity, thus increasing the overall efficiency of the energy generation. Website sigma-aldrich.com Thermoelectric materials have also been explored for other applications, for example, to Email [email protected] capture heat lost in the exhaust of automobiles to produce electricity for the vehicle. An alternative way of generating electricity is by using solar cells, which converts the energy of light into electricity by photovoltaic effect. Solar energy is one of the most promising Subscriptions sustainable energy sources. Solar currently contributes less than 1% of the world’s energy To request your FREE subscription to Material Matters, supply. The relatively high cost per kilowatt-hour and the efficiency of commercial solar please contact us by: cells have limited their utility. The main loss of efficiency in the conversion of solar energy Phone: 800-325-3010 (USA) into electrical energy is due to spectral mismatch, wherein the low energy photons are not Mail: Attn: Marketing Communications absorbed and high energy photons are not efficiently used by a solar cell. Spectral conversion Aldrich Chemical Co., Inc. by using materials, such as lanthanides with high luminescence efficiencies and rich energy Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC level structure, can covert these high and low energy photons to desired wavelengths, thus P.O. Box 2988 significantly increasing the efficiency of solar cells. Milwaukee, WI 53201-2988 Website: Aldrich.com/mm The focus of this issue of Material Matters™ is Materials for Energy Efficiency. The first two Email: [email protected] articles highlight novel thermoelectric materials, which are not based on widely used chalcogenides. In the first article, Prof. Anke Weidenkaff (EMPA-Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Switzerland) describes the advantages of perovskite- International customers, please contact your local Sigma-Aldrich type oxide materials, such as their flexibility and relatively simple and predictable structure– office. For worldwide contact information, please see back cover. property relationship, thus making them novel thermoelectric materials. In the second article, Prof. Mikhail Fedorov (Ioffe Physical-technical Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia) describes metal Material Matters is also available at Aldrich.com/matsci. silicides as another class of promising thermoelectrics. Prof. Bruce van Dover from Cornell University, USA, reports an efficient way of screening materials for different energy-related Aldrich brand products are sold through Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC. applications using the Codeposited Composition Spread (CCS) technique—a variant of Purchaser must determine the suitability of the product for its high-throughput synthesis methods. In the last article, Prof. Andries Meijerink from Utrecht particular use. See product information on the Sigma-Aldrich University, Netherlands, explores the emerging concept of spectral conversion in the field of website at sigma-aldrich.com and/or on the reverse side of photovoltaics, by using lanthanide ions to increase the efficiency of solar cells. invoice or packing slip for additional terms and conditions of Each article in this publication is accompanied by a list of relevant materials available from sale. Aldrich Materials Science. For additional product information, please visit Aldrich Materials Science at Aldrich.com/matsci. Please send us your comments or suggestions for All prices are subject to change without notice. Material Matters™ or your product suggestions at [email protected]. Material Matters (ISSN 1933–9631) is a publication of Aldrich Chemical Co., Inc. Aldrich is a member of the Sigma-Aldrich About Our Cover Group. © 2011 Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC. The development of advanced materials and technologies with improved performances for producing and storing energy is essential for securing our energy future. Examples of materials for energy efficiency include thermoelectric materials (p. 92 and p. 100), advanced thin films (p. 106) and luminescent materials (p. 113). The cover art of this issue represents the generation of energy through these energy efficient approaches, as illustrated through the hot and cold wave (thermal gradient for thermoelectrics) and phosphor materials for enhancing solar cells. Your Materials Matter. Do you have a compound that you wish Aldrich® Materials Science could list to help materials research? If it is needed to accelerate your research, it matters—send your suggestion to [email protected] and we will be happy to give it careful consideration. Materials Matter Your Jeff Thurston, President Aldrich Chemical Co., Inc. Dr. Jacques Huot of Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières kindly suggested that we offer high purity magnesium ingots (Aldrich 12 Prod. No. 735779), suitable for the preparation of hydrogen Magnesium storage metals. Recent studies have shown that cold-processing Atomic Number: 12 Electronic Con guration: [Ne]3s2 of bulk magnesium can drastically increase hydrogen sorption Atomic Weight: 24.305 properties relative to untreated powdered magnesium.1 Magnesium is also used in the production of biodegradable implants (Mg-Mn-Zn),2 battery materials,3 light weight structural Mag ne sium, ≥99% trace metals basis alloys (Mg-Al and Mg-Al-Zn),4-5 and corrosion resistance coatings for steel parts.6-7 [7439-95-4] BRN 4948473 Mg FW 24.31 Larger forms of elemental magnesium can be used in resistivity ........................................................... 4.46 μΩ-cm, 20 °C mp ............................... 648 °C vp ...................... 1 mmHg (621 °C) metallurgical processes and are beneficial due to a reduced bp ............................. 1090 °C ait ................................ 950 °F amount of surface oxidation compared to magnesium powder density . 1.74 g/mL, 25 °C or turnings. ingot L × W × H ...............................................100 mm × 100 mm × 50 mm References 735779-1EA 1 ea 1. Huot, J.; Balema, V. Material Matters 2010, 5, 112. 2. Xu, L.; Pan, F.; Yu, G.; Yang, L.; Zhang, E.; Yang, K. Biomaterials 2009, 30, 1512. 3. Pedneault, S.; Huot, J.; Roue, L. J. Power Sources 2008, 185, 566. 4. Pardo, A.; Merino, M.C.; Coy, A.E.; Arrabal, R.; Viejo, F.; Matykina, E. Corros. Sci. 2008, 50, 823. 5. Huang, X.; Suzuki, K.; Watazu, A.; Shigematsu, I.; Saito, N. J. Alloys Compd. 2008, 457, 408. 6. Ambat, R.; Aung, N.N.; Zhou, W. Corros. Sci. 2000, 42, 1433. 7. Jiang, Z.; Li, S.; Zeng, J.; Liao, X.; Yang, D. Adv. Mater. Res. 2011, 189-193, 1248. Table of Contents Articles Thermoelectric Performance of Perovskite-type Oxide Materials ................................................................................ 92 Silicides: Promising Thermoelectric Materials ...................................................................................................100 Combinatorial Materials Science for Energy Applications. 106 Lanthanide Ions as Photon Managers for Solar Cells ............................................................................................113 Featured Products Materials for Perovskite Oxides ......................................................................................................................96 (A list