THERMOELECTRIC MATERIALS FOR POWER CONVERSION
Abstract
A useful thermoelectric material has been discovered as a result of the research program described in this report. The discovery arose from the measurement of thermal diffusivity at elevated temperatures of a series of heavily doped silicon-germanium alloys. The results showed that at elevated temperatures these materials had a lower conductivity than had been expected on the basis of existing theory. The thermal conductivity values were sufficiently low so that the thermoelectric figure of merit was raised to usefully high values at elevated temperatures. Practical thermoelectric power generators have been made from silicon-germanium alloys. In addition, this report describes materials research on ternary compounds and alloys, metal trisilicides, and rare earth silicides. Measurements of thermal diffusivity of semiconductors at high temperatures are described together with efficiency measurements on power generating thermocouples.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 15, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0291456
Entities
People
- B. Abeles
- D. Richman
- E. F. Hockings
- F. D. Rosi
- George D. Cody
- J. P. Dismukes
- L. Ekstrom
- N. E. Lindenblad
- P. Vohl
Organizations
- Sarnoff Corporation