Thermoelectrics for space applications - from defect study to structural design

Thermoelectric materials have been used in Radioisotrope Thermoelectric generators (RTG) as auxiliary power for space exploration. The energy efficiency is determined by the figure-of-merit zT, which is dependent on material properties such as electrical and thermal conductivity, Seebeck coefficient etc. By phase diagram assisted defect engineering, thermoelectric properties were enhanced. This methodology of property design could be applied to other structural materials for space applications.

Yinglu studied thermoelectric materials during her PhD at Caltech and postdoc at EMPA, Switzerland, focusing on high temperature transport properties of intermetallics. Before joining TU Delft, she worked as a research scientist on electrical contact material for ABB, Switzerland.