Indirajith Palani

Dr. Indirajith Palani

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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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6 August 2024 in Small Structures
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
IPIndirajith Palani
Indirajith Palani
DNDuyen Thi Nguyen
Duyen Thi Nguyen
JKJongchan Kim
Jongchan Kim
QNQuang Khanh Nguyen
Quang Khanh Nguyen
NLNguyen Van Long
Nguyen Van Long
MSMyung Mo Sung
Myung Mo Sung
Thermoelectric materials play a crucial role in converting heat into electricity, offering significant potential for applications in waste heat recovery and cooling. Herein, an innovative approach that combines an organic–inorganic hybrid superlattice structure with nanocrystal‐amorphous composite nanolayers is introduced. The nanocrystal‐amorphous composite enhances the Seebeck coefficient resulting in a notable twofold improvement in the power factor. The superlattice, alternating self‐assembled organic monolayers and inorganic nanolayers, effectively reduces lattice thermal conductivity by creating multiple interfaces that scatter phonons effectively. The integration of the nanocrystal‐amorphous composite nanolayers into the superlattice provides a dual advantage, simultaneously boosting the power factor and suppressing thermal conductivity. This synergistic effect leads to exceptional thermoelectric performance in the 4‐mercaptophenol/Sb2Te3 superlattice, with achieved figure of merit (ZT) values of 3.48 at 300 K and reaching a peak ZT value exceeding 4.0 at 400 K while surpassing 2.5 over the temperature range from 300 to 500 K. These results suggest that this innovative approach paves the way for the development of highly efficient thermoelectric materials, propelling efforts toward more energy‐efficient and environmentally friendly solutions.

5 November 2024 in Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
IPIndirajith Palani
Indirajith Palani
JPJaeyoung Park
Jaeyoung Park
HJHyeonseok Ji
Hyeonseok Ji
CKChaerim Kim
Chaerim Kim
HPHoang Giang Pham
Hoang Giang Pham
MSMyung Mo Sung
Myung Mo Sung

30 May 2026 in Inorganics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
DTDai Cuong Tran
Dai Cuong Tran
IPIndirajith Palani
Indirajith Palani
HKHeeseo Kim
Heeseo Kim
SLSangmin Lee
Sangmin Lee
SCSangho Cho
Sangho Cho
MSMyung Mo Sung
Myung Mo Sung
Semiconducting metal oxides are gaining attention in thermoelectric applications, where performance is evaluated by the figure of merit (ZT), which depends on the power factor (S2σ) and thermal conductivity (κ). However, achieving high ZT values in these materials remains challenging. This study introduces a distinct strategy to enhance thermoelectric performance by infiltrating aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) into poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films using the vapor-phase infiltration (VPI) technique. The resulting AZO/PMMA hybrid films exhibit a unique composite structure with AZO nanocrystals embedded within an amorphous PMMA matrix. This structure facilitates energy-dependent carrier scattering (the energy filtering effect) at the AZO/PMMA interfaces, thereby enhancing the Seebeck coefficient, while phonon scattering at the interfaces reduces thermal conductivity. By precisely controlling VPI parameters, we achieved a uniform dispersion of AZO nanocrystals within the PMMA matrix. The optimized AZO/PMMA hybrid film demonstrated a power factor of 1306 μW m−1 K−2 and a thermal conductivity of 1.02 W m−1 K−1, resulting in a ZT value of approximately 0.384 at 300 K, which is one of the highest reported for metal oxide thermoelectric materials near room temperature. The successful integration of AZO into the PMMA matrix via VPI opens new pathways for developing high-performance, flexible thermoelectric materials.