On a public lecture series of FMIPA-ITB held on Saturday (9/3/2019) at East CC Auditorium of ITB Ganesha Campus, Dr. Agustinus Agung Nugroho addressed a lecture themed “Gathering Electrical Energy Using Topological Materials”. Agustinus began his lecture by introducing various ways in gathering electrical energy. One of them is by using thermoelectric technique.

Gathering electrical energy using thermoelectric has long been developed and used. It uses the heat around environment to move electrons within specific materials to generate electric current. All this time, the technique is considered inefficient for wasting too much energy. The use is also limited for small things such as small refrigerators and small sensor on oil pipes.

“The pursuit of science in the future is energy source that have fast transmission, do not produce heat (power losses), and is easily stored,” said Agustinus. One way to achieve that is by using topological concept on materials.

Topology is a field that studies properties of space and geometry regardless of shape and size. Agustinus gave example using analogy about hurricane and tornado. “The direction of hurricane and tornado will always be the same, regardless of the location it rotates and where it moves to,” explained Agustinus.

After several researches, is was found that several particular materials also have topology. The materials possess characteristics that make it easier for researchers to set strategy on how to use it on many fields. “If we understand about the materials and see the topology inside, we can set or design the materials so that it can replace thermoelectric materials used today,” said Agustinus.

Agustinus said, ”The knowledge regarding this matter is not simple. Many industries have tried to develop it, but it remains small-scale. Hopefully we are not left behind,” he concluded.

Reporter: Ferio Brahmana (Engineering Physics 2017)