Quantum Engineered Systems & Technology

Research on Opto Thermo Electronic Devices

Our Group studies mutual interaction of heat, light and electricity in micro- and nanoscale materials and devices. Gaining a better understanding of these interactions directly assists in the improvement of device and circuit performance in applications such as energy conversion, computing and communication technologies.

A variety of approaches are employed, ranging from theoretical modeling over Monte Carlo and FEM simulation to experimental measurement methodologies. Key results include the development of microcoolers, which could e.g. be integrated into microprocessor ICs to address hot spots, and thermoreflectance imaging techniques with submicron spatial and subnanosecond temporal resolution. These capabilities, together with a wide range of other optical and electrical techniques, are used for thermal characterization of thermoelectric materials and devices, power electronics, LEDs, and solar cells.