Impact of Tunable Dopants on Charge Carrier Behaviour and Lattice Refinement in Spinel Based Thermoelectric Materials

Abstract

Thermoelectric technology provides a sustainable approach to energy harvesting by newlineconverting waste heat into electricity. The demand for thermoelectric materials suitable newlinefor room-temperature applications is increasing as the world moves toward efficient and newlineresilient energy solutions. This thesis explores the development of efficient room newlinetemperature thermoelectric materials for their potential applications in waste heat newlinerecovery and sustainable energy conversion. Among conventional thermoelectric newlinematerials, spinel-based metal oxides have emerged as promising materials owing to their newlinestructural stability, environmental compatibility, tunable electrical and thermal transport newlineproperties. Spinel structures possess an inherently low lattice thermal conductivity newlinebecause of their intricate crystal arrangement, which minimizes heat loss and enhances newlinethermoelectric performance. This doctoral research focuses on the synthesis, newlinecharacterization, and thermoelectric performance of doped and undoped spinel-based newlineoxides, with particular emphasis on copper aluminate for room temperature. Copper newlinealuminate functions as a p-type semiconductor, with charge transport primarily governed newlineby hole conduction, making it suitable for thermoelectric applications. A comprehensive newlinestudy is conducted to understand the impact of dopants on the thermoelectric properties newlineof spinel CuAl2O4 lattice. This research provides insights into the fundamental lattice newlinestructure-property relationships in spinel-based thermoelectric materials and contributes newlineto the advancement of oxide-based thermoelectrics for efficient energy conversion newlineapplications. This thesis examines thermoelectrics, covering key concepts, efficiency newlinemetrics, doping strategies, and material selection. It emphasizes flexible device newlinefabrication, research gaps, and inorganic materials for wearable energy harvesting from newlinehuman motion newline