A solid state approach to the production of kilogram quantities of Si{sub 80}Ge{sub 20} thermoelectric alloys

Conference · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:10114977

Cook, B A; Harringa, J L; Beaudry, B J

An important consideration in the development of improved materials for thermal-to-electrical power generation is whether a research-scale process or methodology is amenable to production of kilogram quantities. Research efforts on the solid state technique of mechanical alloying have shown that both n- and p-type Si-20 at. % Ge alloys can be produced which have improved thermoelectric properties compared to state-of-the-art MOD-RTG materials. Studies on the production of large quantities of mechanically alloyed powder alloys using a planetary mill indicate that properties similar to those observed in alloys prepared in smaller quantities by a vibratory mill can be obtained. The characterization of several p-type alloys doped with 0.8 at. % B in the form SiB{sub 4} by X-ray diffraction, scanning laser mass spectroscopy, Hall effect, and high temperature electrical resistivity and Seebeck coefficient measurements are described. The transport properties of these alloys are shown to be comparable to those measured on similar samples prepared in small quantities by a research-grade vibratory mill.

• Research Organization: Ames Lab., IA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-82
• OSTI ID: 10114977
• Report Number(s): IS-M--734; CONF-930103--28; ON: DE93004476
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300303
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360101
360104
BORON ADDITIONS
DOPED MATERIALS
GERMANIUM ALLOYS
HALL EFFECT
MATERIALS, COMPONENTS, AND AUXILIARIES
P-TYPE CONDUCTORS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PREPARATION AND FABRICATION
PRODUCTION
SILICON ALLOYS
SILICON BORIDES
THERMOELECTRIC MATERIALS
THERMOELECTRIC PROPERTIES
X-RAY DIFFRACTION