The Thermal Energy Materials Group at IIT Madras focuses on the science, engineering, and application of thermoelectric materials and devices for sustainable energy conversion and thermal management. Research activities span the complete spectrum from fundamental materials discovery to device development and technology translation. On the materials side, the group investigates a broad spectrum of thermoelectric materials, ranging from conventional and emerging semiconductor systems to ceramics, intermetallics, and compositionally complex materials, while exploring the underlying transport phenomena involving charge carriers, phonons, and spins. The objective is to develop materials with enhanced thermoelectric performance for efficient waste-heat-to-electricity conversion. Research extends from bulk materials and thin films to flexible and wearable thermoelectric systems.​

​

In parallel, the group actively develops thermoelectric cooling and thermal-management technologies based on the Peltier effect for real-world applications. Current activities include advanced cooling solutions for personal thermal comfort, electronics cooling, biomedical and cryogenic sample management, refrigeration, and integrated photovoltaic–thermoelectric energy systems. Through a combination of materials design, device engineering, prototype development, and industrial collaborations, the group aims to bridge the gap between fundamental research and deployable technologies, while advancing thermoelectrics from laboratory-scale discoveries to practical engineering solutions.