Abstract
A new high temperature thermoelectric device concept using large area nanostructured silicon p-type and n-type (PN) junctions is presented. In contrast to conventional thermoelectric generators, where the n-type and p-type semiconductors are connected electrically in series and thermally in parallel, we experimentally demonstrate a device concept in which a large area PN junction made from highly doped densified silicon nanoparticles is subject to a temperature gradient parallel to the PN interface. In the proposed device concept, the electrical contacts are made at the cold side eliminating the hot side substrate and difficulties that go along with high temperature electrical contacts. This concept allows temperature gradients greater than 300 K to be experimentally applied with hot side temperatures larger than 800 K. Electronic properties of the PN junctions and power output characterizations are presented. A fundamental working principle is discussed using a particle network model with temperature and electric fields as variables, and which considers electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity according to Fourier’s law, as well as Peltier and Seebeck effects.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Nils Petermann for producing the nanoparticles and Gerhard Span for the useful discussions. Financial support in the frame of a young investigator Grant by the Ministry for innovation, science and research of the State North Rhine Westphalia in Germany is gratefully acknowledged. Further, financial support by the German Research Foundation within the priority program 1386 on nanostructured thermoelectrics is gratefully acknowledged.
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Chavez, R., Angst, S., Hall, J. et al. High Temperature Thermoelectric Device Concept Using Large Area PN Junctions. J. Electron. Mater. 43, 2376–2383 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-014-3073-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-014-3073-x