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

Conference · Fri Jan 15 04:00:00 EST 1993 · AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.43150· OSTI ID:6532400

Cook, B A; Harringa, J H; Beaudry, B J ^[1]

---

1. Ames Laboratory, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011-3020 (United States)

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.

• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-82
• OSTI ID: 6532400
• Report Number(s): CONF-930103--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States) Journal Volume: 271:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300303* -- Thermoelectric Generators-- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
ALLOYS
BORIDES
BORON COMPOUNDS
CONVERSION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
DOPED MATERIALS
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ENERGY CONVERSION
GERMANIUM ALLOYS
HALIDES
HALL EFFECT
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PRODUCTION
SEEBECK EFFECT
SILICON ALLOYS
SILICON BORIDES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON HALIDES
THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION
THERMOELECTRIC MATERIALS