Development of Improved Thermoelectric Materials for Space Nuclear Power Systems. Sixth Technical Progress Report, March 1985

摘要

The program consists of two main tasks encompassing (1) the development of an improved SiGe alloy and (2) the development of an as yet unspecified advanced material intended to have superior performance characteristics when compared to SiGe alloys. Significant progress was made toward the goal of producing a SiGe based material with an improved figure-of-merit during this reporting period. In these studies, a quantitative evaluation of the characteristics which produce the low thermal conductivities observed in SiGe alloys is being developed. Specific areas of emphasis include the effects of grain size, charge carrier and GaP concentrations. An alternate method for alloying with GaP was evaluated in which the GaP was added to SiGe during the melting operation. (ERA citation 10:030837)