Electrical, Thermal, and Mechanical Characterization of Novel Segmented-Leg Thermoelectric Modules

• Published in: Journal of electronic materials Vol. 40; no. 10; pp. 2051 - 2062
• Main Authors: D’Angelo, Jonathan, Case, Eldon D., Matchanov, Nuraddin, Wu, Chun-I, Hogan, Timothy P., Barnard, James, Cauchy, Charles, Hendricks, Terry, Kanatzidis, Mercouri G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.10.2011; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Conductivity phenomena in semiconductors and insulators; Construction; Electrical engineering; Electronic materials; Electronic transport in condensed matter; Electronics; Electronics and Microelectronics; Exact sciences and technology; Heat recovery systems; Infrared imagery; Instrumentation; Legs; Materials; Materials Science; Modules; Nonuniformity; Optical and Electronic Materials; Physics; Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices; Solid State Physics; Thermoelectric and thermomagnetic effects; Thermoelectric power generation; Thermoelectric, pyroelectric devices, etc; Thermoelectricity; waste heat recovery; efficiency measurements; segmented leg; power generation; Thermoelectric generator; Bismuth Selenides tellurides; Electronic properties; Electrical properties; Bismuth tellurides; Lead tellurides; Thermoelectric device; Thermoelectric power; Recovery (properties)
• ISSN: 0361-5235; 1543-186X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11664-011-1717-7

In this paper we report on the electrical, thermal, and mechanical characterization of segmented-leg PbTe-based thermoelectric modules. This work featured a thermoelectric module measurement system that was constructed and used to measure 47-couple segmented thermoelectric power generation modules fabricated by Tellurex Corporation using n -type Bi 2 Te 3− x Se x to Ag 0.86 Pb 19+ x SbTe 20 legs and p -type Bi x Sb 2− x Te 3 to Ag 0.9 Pb 9 Sn 9 Sb 0.6 Te 20 legs. The modules were measured under vacuum with hot-side and cold-side temperatures of approximately 670 K and 312 K, respectively. In addition, the measurements on the PbTe-based materials are compared with measurements performed on Bi 2 Te 3 reference modules. Efficiency values as high as 6.56% were measured on these modules. In addition to the measurement system description and the measurement results on these modules, infrared images of the modules that were used to help identify nonuniformities are also presented.