On November 20, 2024, IAPME had the privilege of hosting an insightful seminar as part of its ongoing seminar series. The event featured Prof. Jiaqing He, a distinguished Chair Professor in the Department of Physics at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech). He delivered an engaging presentation titled “Decouple Electron and Phonon Transport for High-Performance Thermoelectrics.” The session was graciously hosted by Prof. Hai-Feng Li from IAPME.
Prof. Jiaqing He is renowned for his pioneering research in thermoelectric materials and transmission electron microscopy. He has a strong academic background, having completed his Ph.D. through a joint program between Wuhan University and the Jülich Research Centre in Germany. His illustrious career includes significant tenures at Brookhaven National Laboratory and Northwestern University in the United States.
A Fellow of the American Physical Society, Prof. He has published over 300 high-impact SCI journal papers, including 8 in Science and 3 in Nature, amassing nearly 40,000 citations and achieving an H-index of 93. He has applied for 52 domestic and international patents, of which 32 have been granted. These accomplishments underscore his substantial contributions to the field.During the seminar, Prof. He provided an in-depth exploration of the challenges and advancements in thermoelectric technology. He emphasized the importance of decoupling electron and phonon transport to enhance thermoelectric performance. He highlighted the figure of merit, ZT, as a critical measure of performance and discussed innovative strategies to optimize it by manipulating material properties. Prof. He illustrated these concepts with examples of emerging nanostructured materials, such as PbQ, GeTe, and AgCrSe. These materials demonstrate significant promise in improving thermoelectric efficiency.
The seminar concluded with a lively discussion on the future of thermoelectric materials and their potential applications in addressing global energy challenges. Attendees gained valuable insights into the latest advancements and were inspired by the potential of these technologies to transform energy utilization. Prof. He’s presentation not only showcased cutting-edge research but also highlighted the collaborative efforts necessary to push the boundaries of current scientific understanding.
The event was a resounding success, fostering knowledge exchange and sparking new ideas for future research collaborations. Prof. Hai-Feng Li aims to continue his tradition of hosting such informative and impactful seminars, contributing to the advancement of science and technology.
