Ali Shakouri

Areas of Interest in Materials:  Thermoelectric materials for refrigeration and for power generation (superlattices and materials with embedded nanoparticles). Thin film and interface thermal conductivity/ ballistic heat propagation, nonlinear thermoelectric effects, focus on device application of novel materials.

Capability:  Experimental characterization of Seebeck and electrical conductivity of thermoelectric materials in 300-800K range. Thin film thermal conductivity measurement using 3-omega technique (10-800K). Transient ZT measurement in 300-800K range using Harman technique. Thermal imaging of active electronic and optoelectronic devices in 10-800K range with submicron spatial, 800ps time and 0.1C temperature resolution. Femtosecond laser characterization of thin film and interface thermal resistances using time domain thermoreflectance,  MBE (In, Ga, Al, As, Si, Be sources), FTIR, Micro Raman (more detailed list of equipment at http://quantum.soe.ucsc.edu/laboratory-facilities) Modeling: Boltzmann transport in bulk semiconductors, superlattices and embedded nanoparticle materials (calculate DC electro thermal transport coefficients in multi valley semiconductors and metals); Monte Carlo simulation of ballistic electrical and thermoelectric effects; 3D coupled electro thermal transport using finite element simulations (ANSYS)

Present topics of study: Thermoelectric power generation, Peltier cooling at interfaces, hot spot removal in IC chips, high speed thermal imaging, thermal characterization of defects in solar cells, LEDs and high speed transistors