Summary

Micro/nano systems are at the core of numerous established and emerging technologies. This course focuses on the microscopic description of heat transfer and energy conversion. It shows how classical physics laws emerge at larger scales and what unique behaviors are observed at the nanoscale.

Content

Keywords

Heat transfer, nanoscale systems, energy conversion

Learning Prerequisites

Important concepts to start the course

Fourier's law, Newton's shear stresses and Ohm's law

Wave equation (will be revised)

Classification of materials

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

• Explain and apply the concepts of heat transfer at the nanoscale (E3)
• Describe and explain the particle VS wave picture of energy transport processes
• Analyze the energy transport regimes of an energy conversion device
• Analyze and characterize a light-energy conversion device
• Assess / Evaluate literature reports of state-of-the-art energy conversion devices

Assessment methods

30% take-home mid-term exam
30% project assignment (hand-in report)
40% final assigment (hand-in report)

Resources

Bibliography

Nanoscale energy transport and conversion : a parallel treatment of electrons, molecules, phonons, and photons

Gang Chen; 2005

https://library.epfl.ch/beast?record=ebi01_prod004956565

Ressources en bibliothèque

• Nanoscale energy transport and conversion : a parallel treatment of electrons, molecules, phonons, and photons / Chen