PacRim7

<p>environmentally benign systems for the benefit of mankind.</p><p>Proposed Session Topics</p><blockquote>¨ Processing and manufacturing technologies of oxide and non-oxide ceramics and composites<br />¨ Processing and properties of fibers, interphases and interfaces, matrices<br />¨ Functionally graded materials and exploration of new multifunctional properties for potential applications<br />¨ Novel processing and characterization techniques for advanced ceramics and composites<br />¨ Processing and characterization of porous materials, filters, and membranes<br />¨ Mechanical and functional behavior<br />¨ Environmental durability, life prediction, and reliability modeling<br />¨ Thermal and environmental barrier coating technologies<br />¨ Advances in joining, attachment, machining, and repair technologies<br />¨ Advanced ceramics and composites for turbine engine applications<br />¨ Advanced ceramics and composites for space transportation applications: propulsion systems and<br />components, thermal protection systems, hot structures and control surfaces<br />¨ Advanced ceramics and composites for power generation, environmental, and nuclear applications<br />¨ Emerging ceramic and composite technologies, engineering issues, and applications<br /></blockquote><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>14. Materials and Technologies for Direct Thermal-to-Electric Energy Conversion</strong><br />Chair: Wenqing Zhang, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, CAS, China<br /> Ryoji Funahashi, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Japan</p><p>Co-Chairs: Peter Rogl, der Universitaet Wien, Austria<br /> Jihui Yang, GM R&amp;D center, USA</p><p>Contact Person: Wenqing Zhang<br /> Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences<br /> 1295 Dingxi Road, Shanghai 200050, China<br /> Tel: +86-21-5241-2416, Fax: +86-21-5241-3122, E-mail: wqzhang@mail.sic.ac.cn</p><p> Ryoji Funahashi<br /> National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology<br /> 1-8-31 Midorigaoka, Ikeda, Osaka 563-8577, Japan<br /> Tel: +81-727-51-9485, Fax: +81-727-51-9622, E-mail: funahashi-r@aist.go.jp</p><p>The symposium will be designed to emphasize the multidisciplinary nature (materials science, physics, chemistry, and<br />engineering) of the research needed to advance the state-of-the-art technology. Both experimental and theoretical work<br />on new concepts for thermal-to-electric conversion, searching for new materials, and synthesis of nanostructure and<br />nanocomposite materials will be specially addressed. Studies of electrical and thermal transport properties, electronic<br />structure and crystal chemistry of materials, thermodynamic analysis will be included. Developments in the techniques<br />of measuring materials properties and characterizing device performance will also be emphasized in this symposium.</p><p>Proposed Session Topics</p><blockquote>¨ Low-dimensional and nanostructured materials<br />¨ Composite and nanocomposite thermoelectric materials<br />¨ Oxides and other materials with strong electron correlation<br />¨ New concepts and novel thermoelectric compounds<br />¨ Measurement and characterization<br />¨ Thermoelectric devices and industrial applications, power generation for special purposes<br />¨ Thermoelectrics related to harvesting solar energy</blockquote><p>&nbsp;</p>