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Title: A comparison of thermoelectric phenomena in diverse alloy systems

Thesis/Dissertation ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/754783· OSTI ID:754783
 [1]
  1. Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)

The study of thermoelectric phenomena in solids provides a wealth of opportunity for exploration of the complex interrelationships between structure, processing, and properties of materials. As thermoelectricity implies some type of coupled thermal and electrical behavior, it is expected that a basic understanding of transport behavior in materials is the goal of such a study. However, transport properties such as electrical resistivity and thermal diffusivity cannot be fully understood and interpreted without first developing an understanding of the material's preparation and its underlying structure. It is the objective of this dissertation to critically examine a number of diverse systems in order to develop a broad perspective on how structure-processing-property relationships differ from system to system, and to discover the common parameters upon which any good thermoelectric material is based. The alloy systems examined in this work include silicon-germanium, zinc oxide, complex intermetallic compounds such as the half-Heusler MNiSn, where M = Ti, Zr, or Hf, and rare earth chalcogenides.

Research Organization:
Ames Lab., Ames, IA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-82
OSTI ID:
754783
Report Number(s):
IS-T-1874; TRN: AH200020%%219
Resource Relation:
Other Information: TH: Thesis (Ph.D.); Submitted to Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (US); PBD: 1 Jan 1999
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English