Thermoelectric materials -- New directions and approaches. Materials Research Society symposium proceedings, Volume 478

摘要: Thermoelectric materials are utilized in a wide variety of applications related to solid-state refrigeration or small-scale power generation. cooling is an environmentally friendly method specific such as computer chips and laser diodes. used range from beverage coolers generation for deep-space probes the Voyager missions. Over past thirty years, alloys based on Bi-Te systems {l{underscore}brace}(Bi{sub 1{minus}x}Sb{sub x}){sub 2} (Te{sub 1{minus}x}Se{sub 3}{r{underscore}brace} Si{sub 1{minus}x}Ge{sub x} have been extensively studied optimized their use thermoelectric perform tasks. Despite this extensive investigation traditional materials, there still substantial need room improvement, thus, entirely new classes compounds will be investigated. two-to-three research field has undergoing rapid rebirth. The enhanced interest better driven by much higher performance temperature regimes devices many applications. essence good given determination themore » material's dimensionless figure merit, ZT = ({alpha}{sup 2}{sigma}/{lambda})T, where {alpha} Seebeck coefficient, {sigma} electrical conductivity {lambda} total thermal conductivity. best value 1. This 1 upper limit more than 30 yet no theoretical thermodynamic reason exits why it can not larger. focus symposium embodied title, Materials: New Directions Approaches. Many researchers believe that future advances come through materials. authors methods synthesis characterization these were available 20--30 years ago. They tried directions skutterudites, quantum well superlattice structures, metal chalcogenides, rare earth systems, quasicrystals. Other also presented proceedings. Separate abstracts prepared all papers volume.« less