Thermoelectric materials and devices have promising applications in nuclear reactors and in space. Nick’s presentation will provide a brief introduction to the physics of advanced thermoelectric materials and discuss how they can be implemented in radioactive environments to save money and increase safety. He will also talk about the irradiation effect on materials and share a novel scanning thermal microprobe he developed to characterize the irradiation effect on material properties.
Nick Kempf, Advanced Energy Laboratory - Boise State University
Presented April 28, 2017
Nick Kempf is a DOE fellow pursuing a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering. Nick conducts his research in the Advanced Energy Lab at Boise State University and is currently studying the irradiation effect on advanced materials. His past projects include thermal design of thermoelectric generators for various applications, including residential water boilers and passenger vehicles.