Research Director

Takuro Katsufuji

Department of Physics, Waseda University
Professor
website

Outline

To efficiently convert waste heat into electrical power, the components with low thermal conductivity and high electrical conductivity are highly desired. To produce such components, it is necessary to reduce heat conduction by acoustic phonons in materials. Our goal in this project is to substantially reduce such phonon thermal conduction in materials by utilizing the fluctuation of orbital and charge degrees of freedom in d electrons. To achieve this goal, we develop new materials, fabricate nanostructures, and perform cutting-edge measurements on them. Through these studies, we clarify the relationship between orbital/charge fluctuation and phonon thermal conduction in solids, and realize more efficient thermoelectric generation.