Thermoelectric Properties of Bismuth-Antimony Thin Films
Thermoelectrics have a wide range of potential applications in the temperature range of 0/sup 0/ to 100/sup 0/C. In an effort to enhance the feasibility of thermoelectrics, we have begun investigation of potentially cheaper materials and cheaper techniques for thermoelectrics. Two features of bismuth and antimony have influenced our work. First, Horst and Williams have reported quite respectable figure of merit values in bulk single crystals of bismuth-antimony, up to 2.5 x 10/sup -3/ at room temperature. Second, bismuth and antimony are an order of magnitude cheaper in cost compared to selenium and tellurium, making this binary alloy a natural candidate to reduce the cost of thermoelectric devices. Our avenue of approach involves a simplification of the fabrication process using an established technique of solid-state electronics: thin-film deposition. We have recently begun to investigate the extent to which the favorable properties of bulk Bi-Sb are preserved in thin films. Some of the preliminary data coming out of this ongoing investigation are reported.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- OSTI ID:
- 5139258
- Report Number(s):
- SERI/TP-731-756
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
300303* -- Thermoelectric Generators-- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
ALLOY SYSTEMS
ALLOYS
ANTIMONY ALLOYS
BINARY ALLOY SYSTEMS
BISMUTH ALLOYS
COST
DATA
DATA FORMS
DEPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
EVAPORATION
FABRICATION
FILMS
GRAPHS
INFORMATION
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLATING
PNICTIDES
SAMPLE PREPARATION
SEEBECK EFFECT
SURFACE COATING
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS
THERMOELECTRIC PROPERTIES
VAPOR PLATING
alloy systems
antimony alloys
binary alloy systems
bismuth alloys
cost
data
deposition
direct energy conversion
electric conductivity
evaporation
fabrication
films
graphs
sample preparation
seebeck effect
temperature dependence
thermoelectric generators
thermoelectric properties
vapor plating