초록 ▼

Transition metals (T) of Group VIII (Co, Rh and Ir) have been prepared as semiconductor alloys with Sb having the general formula TSb3. The skutterudite-type crystal lattice structure of these semiconductor alloys and their enhanced thermoelectric properties results in semiconductor materials which

Transition metals (T) of Group VIII (Co, Rh and Ir) have been prepared as semiconductor alloys with Sb having the general formula TSb3. The skutterudite-type crystal lattice structure of these semiconductor alloys and their enhanced thermoelectric properties results in semiconductor materials which may be used in the fabrication of thermoelectric elements to substantially improve the efficiency of the resulting thermoelectric device. Semiconductor alloys having the desired skutterudite-type crystal lattice structure may be prepared in accordance with the present invention by using vertical gradient freeze techniques, liquid-solid phase sintering techniques, low temperature powder sintering and/or hot-pressing. Measurements of electrical and thermal transport properties of selected semiconductor materials prepared in accordance with the present invention, demonstrated high Hall mobilities (up to 8000 cm2.V-1.s-1), good Seebeck coefficients (up to 400 m-1 between 300°C. and 700°C.), and low thermal conductivities (as low as 15 mW/cmK). Optimizing the transport properties of semiconductor materials prepared from elemental mixtures Co, Rh, Ir and Sb resulted in a two fold increase in the thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) at temperatures as high as 400°C. for thermoelectric elements fabricated from such semiconductor materials.

대표청구항 ▼

A thermoelectric device having a plurality of thermoelectric elements with at least one of the thermoelectric elements comprising a first material having a skutterudite-type crystal lattice structure with a unit cell of eight groups of AB3 wherein A comprises a metal atom and B comprises a non-metal

A thermoelectric device having a plurality of thermoelectric elements with at least one of the thermoelectric elements comprising a first material having a skutterudite-type crystal lattice structure with a unit cell of eight groups of AB3 wherein A comprises a metal atom and B comprises a non-metal atom.