Tailoring of Interfaces for Improving Energy Efficiency

Tailoring of Interfaces for Improving Energy Efficiency

We aim to design new interfaces and components to enhance performance in energy conversion for fulfilling the power requirement of the diagnostics (going beyond the concept of p-n junction solar energy conversion). Modifications with structured surfaces may prove to be useful and to provide energy efficiency, particularly in applications such as cooling of small electronic devices, where conventional surface modification techniques are not applicable. It appears to be feasible that high heat removal rates and heat transfer coefficients more than 5,000 W/cm2 and 10,000 W/m2K could be attained with surface modifications using artificially structured surfaces, which can be proposed as a promising solution method for possible new emerging applications such as nano-scale plasmonic applications, near field radiative energy exchange between objects, and nano thermophotovoltaics related to renewable energy and contributing to protection of environment. Such futuristic applications are among the planned activities of the Center.