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Segmented Power Generator Modules of Bi2Te3 and ErAs:InGaAlAs Embedded with ErAs Nanoparticles

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Gehong Zeng ,
Je-Hyeong Bahk ,
John E. Bowers ,
Hong Lu ,
Joshua M. O. Zide ,
Arthur C. Gossard ,
Rajeev Singh ,
Zhixi Bian ,
Ali Shakouri  and
Suzanne L. Singer
...Show all authors
Gehong Zeng
Affiliation:
gehong@ece.ucsb.edu, University of California, Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2221G Science Engineering Building, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, United States
Je-Hyeong Bahk
Affiliation:
jhbahk@ece.ucsb.edu, University of California, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, United States
John E. Bowers
Affiliation:
bowers@ece.ucsb.edu, University of California, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, United States
Hong Lu
Affiliation:
luhong@engineering.ucsb.edu, University of California, Materials Department, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, United States
Joshua M. O. Zide
Affiliation:
zide@ece.udel.edu, University of California, Materials Department, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, United States
Arthur C. Gossard
Affiliation:
gossard@engineering.ucsb.edu, University of California, Materials Department, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, United States
Rajeev Singh
Affiliation:
rsingh@soe.ucsc.edu, University of California, Electrical Engineering Department, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, United States
Zhixi Bian
Affiliation:
zxbian@soe.ucsc.edu, University of California, Electrical Engineering Department, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, United States
Ali Shakouri
Affiliation:
ali@soe.ucsc.edu, University of California, Electrical Engineering Department, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, United States
Suzanne L. Singer
Affiliation:
slsinger@berkeley.edu, University of California, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Berkeley, CA, 94720, United States
Woochul Kim
Affiliation:
woochul@yonsei.ac.kr, University of California, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Berkeley, CA, 94720, United States
Arun Majumdar
Affiliation:
majumdar@me.berkeley.edu, University of California, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Berkeley, CA, 94720, United States
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Abstract

We report the fabrication and characterization of segmented element power generator modules of 254 thermoelectric elements. The element is 1 mm × 1 mm in area, which consists of 300 μm thickness Bi2Te3 and 50 μm thickness ErAs:(InGaAs)1-x(InAlAs)x, so that each segment can work at different temperature ranges. Erbium arsenide metallic nanoparticles are incorporated to create scattering centers for middle and long wavelength phonons, provide charge carriers, and form local Schottky barriers for electron filtering. The thermoelectric properties of ErAs:InGaAlAs were characterized by variable temperature measurements of thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient from 300 K to 600 K. Generator modules of Bi2Te3 and ErAs:InGaAlAs segmented elements were fabricated and an output power over 5.5 W was measured. The performance of the thermoelectric generator modules can further be improved by improving the thermoelectric properties of the element material, and reducing the electrical and thermal parasitic losses.

Keywords

nanostructurethermoelectricitymolecular beam epitaxy (MBE)
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1044: Symposium U – Thermoelectric Power Generation , 2007 , 1044-U10-06
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2008

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