THERMOELECTRICITY. Progress Report No. 6. JULY 30, 1958. Includes paper: SOLID-LIQUID PHASE EQULIBRIA IN THE PSEUDO-BINARY SYSTEM Bi$sub 2$Te$sub 3$-Bi$sub 2$Se$sub 3$

Technical Report · Tue Jun 17 00:00:00 EDT 1958

OSTI ID:4211890

McHugh, J P; Tiller, W A

Theoretical exploration of Ce-S, Th-S, and In As/sub 1/-xP/sub x/ systems is reported. Experimental findings are reported including confirmation of hypotheses relevant to electron transport mechanism, and recording of figure of merit data on InAs-Se, InAs-S, and InSb systems. Reduced thermal conductivity crystals with good charge carrier mobility were prepared. Investigation of several mixed valence materials is reported. Measurements indicate that MuTe/sub 1-x/As/sub x/ decomposes at 300 to 500 deg C and a more stable compound is being sought in MnTe/sub 1-x/ Sb/sub x/. Data on Zr compounds such as La/sub x/Ba/sub 1-x/ZrO/su b 3/ are given. Preparation of Ce/sub x/S/sub 3/-Ce/sub 3/S/sub 4/ systems are reported. Also data on semiconductors and semimetals such as InAs, InSb, Bi/sub 2-x/ SbxTe/sub 3- gamma Se/sub gamma , Mn/sub 2/Si/sub x/Sn /sub 1- x/ and Zn-8b are given along with data on the thermoelectric power of CeSi/sub 2+n/. The use of semiconductors in thermoelectric devices is considered wtth particular emphasis on Peltier effect refrigerators and Seeback effect generators. It is pointed out that the value of a material as thermoelectric element-is related to its figure of merit. Theory and maximization psrameters of the figure of merit are studied. Factors which enter into consideration of semiconductor electron transport properties are discussed. These comprise information about degeneracy of the conducting electrons, extrinsic and intrinsic range, and band structare and effective mass. Review of developments in semiconductor electric conductivity, thermoelectric power expressions, thermal conductivity, and figure of merit optimization is given. Also data on liquidus and solidus surfaces for the system Bi/sub 2/Te/sub 3/-Bi/sub 2/Se/sub 3/ are presented along wtth partition coefficients for Te and Se. (J.R.D.)

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp. Research Labs., Pittsburgh
• DOE Contract Number: NOBS-72361
• NSA Number: NSA-13-022595
• OSTI ID: 4211890
• Report Number(s): AD-215963; 431FD271-P1
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-59
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

PHYSICS AND MATHEMATICS
ANTIMONY COMPOUNDS- ARSENIC COMPOUNDS- BARIUM OXIDES- - BISMUTH OXIDES- CERIUM SULFIDES- CRYSTALS- INDIUM COMPOUNDS- LANTHANUM OXIDES- MANGANESE COMPOUNDS- MEASURED VALUES- PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS- PREPARATION- SELENIDES- SILICIDES- TELLURIDES- TEMPERATURE- THERMOELECTRICITY- THORIUM SULFIDES- ZINC COMPOUNDS- ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS- ZIRCONIUM OXIDES
BISMUTH COMPOUNDS- LIQUIDS- QUANTITY RATIO- SELENIDES- SOLIDS- SURFACES- TELLURIDES- THERMOELECTRICITY
CRYOGENICS- EFFICIENCY- ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY- ELECTRONS- GENERATORS- MASS- NUMERICALS- PELTIER EFFECT- POWER- SEEBECK EFFECT- SEMICONDUCTORS- THERMOELECTRICITY-