The Nanotechnology Knowledge Transfer Network (NanoKTN – www.nanoktn.com), one of the UK’s primary knowledge-based networks for Micro and Nanotechnologies, is pleased to announce its support for the first UK Thermoelectric Network – TEMPEST, funded through the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Thermoelectric materials convert thermal energy into electrical voltage and vice versa, and hence can be used for harvesting waste heat. The TEMPEST Network will serve as a focal point by bringing together individuals in different disciplines to define and address the considerable research challenges presented in realising the potential offered by thermoelectrics. The initial membership of the Network will include 13 universities (representing Physics, Chemistry, Materials and Engineering disciplines), the National Physical Laboratory, 7 industrial partners covering all aspects of the Thermoelectric module design and manufacture supply chain, plus a large number of end users. In total over 32 individual organisations will be represented.
The NanoKTN has been exploring the potential for UK commercialisation of nano-enabled thermoelectrics - initially for energy harvesting – and ran a very successful workshop at the Institute of Physics. As a result of this workshop, a position paper entitled “Why the UK Should Invest in Thermoelectrics & the Role of Nanotechnology - a Position Paper” was developed to advise government. The Paper recommended that a UK network be set up with a ‘UK Roadmap’ for the development of thermoelectric materials and systems with UK government research funding initiating new research programmes to develop materials, devices and systems that meet existing industrial and commercial needs in thermoelectricity.
Dr Martin Kemp, Theme Manager at the NanoKTN commented, “Thermoelectrics offers significant opportunities for UK growth. A number of new market opportunities will open up if a new generation of higher efficiency and more sustainable materials/devices can be developed such as in harvesting, automotive and HGV exhaust heat, solar thermal energy, high temperature industrial processes, and self-powered sensors.”
“The UK has key strengths in the depth of its academic expertise in thermoelectrics, in particular in nano and micro technologies which offer a new paradigm in materials design and construction - the nano dimension seen as being key to optimising the design of improved thermoelectric materials. The UK also has specialist facilities for materials analysis such as STFC (ISIS) Harwell and the National Physical Laboratory, the ability to manufacture nanoparticulates on a commercial scale and a strong commercial base of end-users. We believe, that working together, the members of the TEMPEST network will be able to address the considerable research challenges presented in realising the potential offered by thermoelectrics and deliver significant commercial growth opportunities for the UK.”
The NanoKTN will be working with the TEMPEST Network on the launch event which will take place on 26th February 2014 in Manchester with a focus on state-of-the-art and challenges in thermoelectric materials and their applications.