Development of film-shaped thermoelectric materials for thermoelectric modules

• Published in: Applied energy Vol. 59; no. 2; pp. 147 - 162
• Main Authors: Nakagiri, Y, Gyoten, H, Yamamoto, Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.02.1998; Elsevier Science; Elsevier
• Series: Applied Energy
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Devices using thermal energy; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Miscellaneous; Characterization; Antimony Selenides; Bismuth Selenides; Thermoelectric device; Cooling; Manufacturing process; Electric power production; Antimony Tellurides; Bismuth Tellurides
• ISSN: 0306-2619; 1872-9118
• DOI: 10.1016/S0306-2619(98)00012-9

Film-shaped thermoelectric materials have been prepared for thermoelectric modules for cooling or electricity generation. Flash evaporation and casting are adopted for preparing film-shaped p-, n-type (Bi,Sb) 2(Te,Se) 3 materials. The chemical characteristics and the thermoelectric properties of these samples have been investigated. By controlling the preparation temperature or selecting the impurities, film-shaped thermoelectric materials, comparable in properties with bulk-shaped sintered materials, are obtained. The thermoelectric power factor of the n-type (6–7 μm) film sample, prepared by the flash evaporation method, is 30 μW cm −1K 2. In addition, that of the p-type (0.5–0.7 μm) film sample , prepared by the casting method with added impurities, is 40 μW cm −1K 2.