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Applying Quantitative Microstructure Control in Advanced Functional Composites
Author(s) -
Heinz Nicholas A.,
Ikeda Teruyuki,
Pei Yanzhong,
Snyder G. Jeffrey
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201302899
Subject(s) - materials science , microstructure , thermoelectric effect , eutectic system , nucleation , thermoelectric materials , thermal conductivity , composite material , nanostructure , semiconductor , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , physics , chemistry , organic chemistry , thermodynamics
Microstructure control in functional materials draws from a historical reserve rich in established theory and experimental observation of metallurgy. Methods such as rapid solidification, eutectoid reaction, and nucleation and growth precipitation have all proven to be effective means to produce microstructure relevant for a wide array of applications. Here, the available parameters to control structure morphology, size, and spacing are discussed using thermoelectric composites as an example. Moreover, exploiting different aspects of a material system's phase diagram enables a controlled introduction of nanostructures. While much of this discussion is pertinent to the rapidly developing field of thermal conductivity control in thermoelectric composites, these techniques can be applied to a variety of other material systems where their use may lead to novel electrical, optical, as well as thermal properties of semiconductors and insulators as it has in the past for the mechanical properties of metals.