USING PRESSED AND SINTERED BI-SB TO IMPROVE THERMOELECTRIC COOLERS BELOW 200K

THIS PROJECT LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PRACTICAL THERMOELECTRIC COOLER THAT WILL OBTAIN COLDER TEMPERATURES THAN 160K AND/OR HIGHER EFFICIENCIES THAN CURRENT COOLERS WHEN OPERATING BELOW 200K. THE IMPROVED THERMOELECTRIC COOLER WOULD USE N-TYPE BI-SB, PRODUCED THROUGH POWDER METALLURGY, IN THE STAGES OPERATING BELOW 220K. THIS WORK WOULD BE A DEPARTURE FROM TRADITIONAL BI-SBRESEARCH, WHICH HAS CONCENTRATED ON THE PRODUCTION OF SINGLE-CRYSTAL MATERIALS. PHASE I WILL DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING N-TYPE BI-SB THROUGH POWDER METALLURGY, WHICH OFFERS MYRIAD ADVANTAGES OVER CONVENTIONAL, SINGLE-CRYSTAL BI-SB. BI-SB THAT IS DEVELOPEDTHROUGH POWDER METALLURGY IS EASIER TO PRODUCE, DIMENSION, AND HANDLE THAN SINGLE CRYSTAL BI-SB. THE FINE-GRAINED MICROSTRUCTURE PRODUCED BY POWDER METALLURGY ALSO ELIMINATESTHE DANGER OF CATASTROPHIC FAILURE DUE TO CLEAVAGE, A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH SINGLE-CRYSTAL BI-SB. WHEN SUCCESSFULLY PRODUCED, N-TYPE BI-SB WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO THERMOELECTRIC COOLERS, RESULTING IN LOWER OPERATING TEMPERATURE CAPABILITIES AND HIGHER EFFICIENCIES. THIS PROJECT LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PRACTICAL THERMOELECTRIC COOLER THAT WILL OBTAIN COLDER TEMPERATURES THAN 160K AND/OR HIGHER EFFICIENCIES THAN CURRENT COOLERS WHEN OPERATING BELOW 200K. THE IMPROVED THERMOELECTRIC COOLER WOULD USE N-TYPE BI-SB, PRODUCED THROUGH POWDER METALLURGY, IN THE STAGES OPERATING BELOW 220K. THIS WORK WOULD BE A DEPARTURE FROM TRADITIONAL BI-SBRESEARCH, WHICH HAS CONCENTRATED ON THE PRODUCTION OF SINGLE-CRYSTAL MATERIALS. PHASE I WILL DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING N-TYPE BI-SB THROUGH POWDER METALLURGY, WHICH OFFERS MYRIAD ADVANTAGES OVER CONVENTIONAL, SINGLE-CRYSTAL BI-SB. BI-SB THAT IS DEVELOPEDTHROUGH POWDER METALLURGY IS EASIER TO PRODUCE, DIMENSION, AND HANDLE THAN SINGLE CRYSTAL BI-SB. THE FINE-GRAINED MICROSTRUCTURE PRODUCED BY POWDER METALLURGY ALSO ELIMINATESTHE DANGER OF CATASTROPHIC FAILURE DUE TO CLEAVAGE, A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH SINGLE-CRYSTAL BI-SB. WHEN SUCCESSFULLY PRODUCED, N-TYPE BI-SB WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO THERMOELECTRIC COOLERS, RESULTING IN LOWER OPERATING TEMPERATURE CAPABILITIES AND HIGHER EFFICIENCIES.