Publication Date:
2016-04-02
Description:
We demonstrate an efficient energy conversion in a p-n thermoelectric couple built of bulk Pb 0.95 Mn 0.05 Te crystals grown by the Bridgman method and heavily doped n -type with Bi ( n = 1.9 × 10 19 cm − 3 ) or p -type with Na ( p = 2.3 × 10 19 cm − 3 ). Substitution of Mn 2+ ions for Pb 2+ ions at the rock-salt lattice cation sites increases the band gap of Pb 1− x Mn x Te and decreases the energy separation between the light hole L-band and the heavy hole Σ-band. It results in a large increase of thermoelectric power and improved thermoelectric parameters of p -type Pb 1− x Mn x Te. Applying the Harman method for samples of various lengths, we experimentally determined the radiation correction factors and found the thermoelectric figure of merit parameter Z T = 0.75 – 0.8 at T = 650 K for both n - and p -type materials with good thermoelectric matching of the couple. We report on thermoelectric performance of a p-n thermoelectric couple assembled of these materials and tested over the T = 300 – 670 K temperature region.
Print ISSN:
0003-6951
Electronic ISSN:
1077-3118
Topics:
Physics
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