Thermoelectric Materials for Low Temperature Cooling
Abstract
The Air Force has an interest in operating some electronic satellite components at very low temperatures, about 40 K. Novel approaches are presently being pursued with the aim of using solid-state cooling to reach such temperatures. Laser cooling and electroluminescent cooling of solids, for example, are being investigated in other programs as phenomena that may be suitable for new refrigeration technologies. An alternative cooling technology, which sees widespread current application in systems that operate near room temperature, is thermoelectric cooling. This AFOSR research program was focused on the discovery and development of new bulk materials whose thermoelectric properties at low temperature may allow them to ultimately yield appropriate coolers for these low temperature applications. Several new bulk materials systems were identified that might be useful for low temperature cooling applications with further development. One in particular, calcium doped bismuth selenide, shows anomalously good thermoelectric properties at temperatures near 10 Kelvin.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 02, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA510590
Entities
People
- Robert Cava
Organizations
- Princeton University