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Title: Extreme solid state refrigeration using nanostructured Bi-Te alloys.

Abstract

Materials are desperately needed for cryogenic solid state refrigeration. We have investigated nanostructured Bi-Te alloys for their potential use in Ettingshausen refrigeration to liquid nitrogen temperatures. These alloys form alternating layers of Bi{sub 2} and Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3} blocks in equilibrium. The composition Bi{sub 4}Te{sub 3} was identified as having the greatest potential for having a high Ettingshausen figure of merit. Both single crystal and polycrystalline forms of this material were synthesized. After evaluating the Ettingshausen figure of merit for a large, high quality polycrystal, we simulated the limits of practical refrigeration in this material from 200 to 77 K using a simple device model. The band structure was also computed and compared to experiments. We discuss the crystal growth, transport physics, and practical refrigeration potential of Bi-Te alloys.

Authors:
 [1]; ; ; ;
  1. San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
993612
Report Number(s):
SAND2009-5978
TRN: US201024%%90
DOE Contract Number:  
AC04-94AL85000
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; ALLOYS; CRYOGENICS; CRYSTAL GROWTH; MONOCRYSTALS; NITROGEN; PERFORMANCE; PHYSICS; REFRIGERATION; TRANSPORT

Citation Formats

Lima Sharma, Ana L, Spataru, Dan Catalin, Medlin, Douglas L, Sharma, Peter Anand, and Morales, Alfredo Martin. Extreme solid state refrigeration using nanostructured Bi-Te alloys.. United States: N. p., 2009. Web. doi:10.2172/993612.
Lima Sharma, Ana L, Spataru, Dan Catalin, Medlin, Douglas L, Sharma, Peter Anand, & Morales, Alfredo Martin. Extreme solid state refrigeration using nanostructured Bi-Te alloys.. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/993612
Lima Sharma, Ana L, Spataru, Dan Catalin, Medlin, Douglas L, Sharma, Peter Anand, and Morales, Alfredo Martin. 2009. "Extreme solid state refrigeration using nanostructured Bi-Te alloys.". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/993612. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/993612.
@article{osti_993612,
title = {Extreme solid state refrigeration using nanostructured Bi-Te alloys.},
author = {Lima Sharma, Ana L and Spataru, Dan Catalin and Medlin, Douglas L and Sharma, Peter Anand and Morales, Alfredo Martin},
abstractNote = {Materials are desperately needed for cryogenic solid state refrigeration. We have investigated nanostructured Bi-Te alloys for their potential use in Ettingshausen refrigeration to liquid nitrogen temperatures. These alloys form alternating layers of Bi{sub 2} and Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3} blocks in equilibrium. The composition Bi{sub 4}Te{sub 3} was identified as having the greatest potential for having a high Ettingshausen figure of merit. Both single crystal and polycrystalline forms of this material were synthesized. After evaluating the Ettingshausen figure of merit for a large, high quality polycrystal, we simulated the limits of practical refrigeration in this material from 200 to 77 K using a simple device model. The band structure was also computed and compared to experiments. We discuss the crystal growth, transport physics, and practical refrigeration potential of Bi-Te alloys.},
doi = {10.2172/993612},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/993612}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2009},
month = {Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2009}
}