SiGe/Si Superlattice Coolers

Abstract

The fabrication and characterization of SiGe/Si superlattice coolers are described. Superlattice structures were used to enhance the device performance by reducing the thermal conductivity between the hot and the cold junctions, and by providing selective removal of hot carriers through thermionic emission. Cooling of 2.2 K and 2.5 K were measured on n-type and p-type 75 * 75 micronmeter2 devices, corresponding to cooling power densities of hundreds of watts per square centimeter. Cooling up to 7.2 K was obtained at 150 C for p-type 50 * 50 micronmeter2 devices. The results show that n-type and p-type coolers can work together in similar optimal conditions. This paves the road to fabricate n-type and p-type superlattice coolers in an array format electrically in series and thermally in parallel, similar to conventional thermoelectric devices, and thus achieve large cooling capacities with relatively small currents.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2000
Accession Number
ADA461105

Entities

People

  • Ali Shakouri
  • Chris Labounty
  • Edward Croke
  • Gehong Zeng
  • Gerry Robinson
  • Xiaofeng Fan

Organizations

  • University of California, Santa Barbara

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Conductivity
  • Crystal Lattices
  • Electron Microscopes
  • Emission
  • Engineering
  • Fabrication
  • Heat Energy
  • Heat Sinks
  • Manufacturing
  • Materials
  • Metal Contacts
  • Semiconductors
  • Superlattices
  • Thermal Conductivity
  • Thermionic Emission
  • Three Dimensional

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Semiconductor Device Technology
  • Solar Photovoltaics and Thermoelectric Devices.