Laboratory for Energy and Advanced Devices (LEAD)   

Welcome to Dr. Suresh Perumal's research group, LEAD! 

This group mainly focuses on synthesis, materials processing, and physical properties of intermetallics, silicides, oxides, high entropy alloys, and chalcogenides-based materials for thermoelectric power generations, especially to harvest untapped waste-heat into usable electricity and thereby powering small-scale electronic devices and boost-up the gasoline heat engines. 

In this view, we extensively study (i). Physics of functional materials, (ii). Tailoring the electronic and phonon band structures, (iii). Engineering the microstructures via metallurgical routes, (iv). Examining the mechanical properties, (v) Development of Thermoelectric Power Generators, and (vi), Design, Assembly, and Fabrication of Transport Property Measurement Systems, to enhance the thermoelectric (heat-to-electricity) conversion efficiency of selected materials.

Recently, we started working on the rare-earth-free NiMn-based half-Heuslers for low-magnetic field and room-temperature magnetic refrigeration.