The maximum possible conversion efficiency of silicon‐germanium thermoelectric generators
The maximum possible conversion efficiency of silicon‐germanium thermoelectric generators
复制标题
DOI：
10.1063/1.349385
复制
发表时间：
1991-09
影响因子：
3.2
通讯作者：
G. Slack;M. A. Hussain
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
G. Slack;M. A. Hussain
本文综述了N型和P型硅-锗合金的热电性质，并对由70%Si-30%Ge合金制成的温差发电器在300-1300K温度范围内的效率进行了详细的计算。一个标准材料、最佳掺杂和无限分段的发生器在这个范围内的工作效率将达到12.1%。如果能在不影响电学性质的情况下将晶格热导率降低到最小值，则效率可提高到最大值23.3%。通过2.4%的细小分散的第二相析出物作为声子散射体，可以获得更温和的效率提高到14.7%。讨论了能隙加成和晶界散射作为提高效率的方法的实用性和无效性。
The thermoelectric properties of N‐type and P‐type Si‐Ge alloys have been reviewed and detailed calculations for the efficiency of a thermoelectric generator made from a 70% Si‐30% Ge alloy have been made over the temperature range from 300 to 1300 K. A model employing one valence band and two conduction bands has been used. A generator of standard material, optimally doped, and infinitely segmented will have an efficiency of 12.1% operating over this range. If the lattice thermal conductivity can be reduced to its minimum value without upsetting the electrical properties, then the efficiency can be raised to an ultimate maximum of 23.3%. A more modest increase in efficiency to 14.7% could be obtained by a 2.4 volume percent of finely dispersed second‐phase precipitates which would act as phonon scatterers. The utility/futility of GaP additions and grain‐boundary scattering as methods to increase the efficiency is discussed.