• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.231-231
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• 2010

Thermoelectric properties of a multi-layered thin film, which was composed with indium selenide and bismuth telluride, were investigated. The structure of the layered thin film is Bi-Te /In-Se/Bi-Te and it was prepared on sapphire substrate by RF magnetron sputter using stoichiometric $Bi_2Te_3$ (99.9%) and $In_2Se_3$(99.99%) target at room temperature. Then, it was annealed at temperature range of 150 - $500^{\circ}C$ in Ar ambient. Structural characterizations were done using X-ray diffraction(XRD, BRUKER, D8, 60kW) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM, FEI, Tecnai, F30 S-Twin), respectively. Cross-section of multi-layer structure was observed by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The resistivity and Seebeck coefficient of these samples were also measured by conventional equipment at room temperature. The maximum value of power factor was $1.16\;{\mu}W/k^2m$ at annealing temperature of $400^{\circ}C$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2009.04b
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• pp.23-23
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• 2009

It has been challenging to increase the thermoelectric figure of merit ($ZT=S^2{\sigma}T/\kappa$) of materials, which determine the efficiency of thermoelectric devices, because the three parameters Seebeck coefficient (S), electrical conductivity ($\sigma$), and thermal conductivity ($\kappa$) of bulk materials are inter-dependent. With the development of nanotechnology, ZT values of nanostructured materials are predicted to be enhanced by classical size effects and quantum confinement effects. In particular, Bi nanowires were suggested as one of ideal thermoelectric materials due to the expected quantum confinement effects for the simultaneous increase in Sand. In this work, we have investigated the thermal conductivity of individual single crystalline Bi nanowires with d = 98 nm and d = 327 nm in the temperature range 40 - 300 K using MEMS devices. The for the Bi nanowire with d = 98 nm was observed to be ~ 1.6 W/m-K at 300 K, which is much lower than that of Bi bulk (8 W/m-K at 300 K). This indicates that the thermal conductivity of the Bi suppressed due to enhanced surface boundary scattering in one-dimensional structures. Our results suggest that Bi nanowires grown by stress-induced method can be used for high-efficiency thermoelectric devices.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.450.2-450.2
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• 2014

열전재료는 열-전기가 상호 가역적으로 변하는 재료로서, 최근 에너지 변환소재 분야에서 각광받고 있다. 열전재료의 특성 효율은 무차원 열전 성능지수(dimensionless figure of merit, $ZT={\alpha}2{\sigma}T/{\kappa}$)로 나타낼 수 있다. 여기서 ${\alpha}$는 제벡계수(Seebeck coefficient), ${\sigma}$는 전기전도도(electrical conductivity), ${\kappa}$는 열전도도(thermal conductivity), T는 Kelvin 온도를 나타낸다. 500 K에서 800 K까지의 중온 영역에서 우수한 열전특성을 보이는 $Mg_2X$ (X=Si, Ge, Sn)와 이들의 고용체는 성분원소가 독성이 없고, 매장량이 많아 친환경 열전 재료로 각광받고 있다. $Mg_2X$ 고용체 중 $Mg_2Si_{1-x}Ge_x$는 기존 $Mn_2Si$, $Mg_2Ge$, $Mg_2Sn$계 보다 더 우수한 열전 성능지수를 보인다. 다양한 제조 방법들이 시도되고 있으나, 조성설계 및 구조, 성능 조절의 어려움이 있고, Mg의 산화와 휘발 및 Mg, Si, Ge의 융점 차이가 크고 중력 편석과 반응하지 않은 원소들로 인해 제조가 상당히 어렵다. Sb가 도핑된 $Mg_2Si_{0.5}Ge_{0.5}Sb_y$ (y=0, 0.005, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03) 고용체를 고상반응으로 합성하고 진공열간 압축성형을 통해 성공적으로 제조하였다. 고용 상을 확인하기 위하여 X선 회절분석을 실시하였고, 고용체 형성과 도핑에 따른 전기적 특성변화를 평가하기 위해 Hall 효과를 측정하여 전자 이동특성을 분석하였고, 323~823 K까지 전기전도도, 제벡계수, 열전도도의 측정을 통해 열전 성능지수를 평가하였다.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.68-74
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• 2015

The porous $Mg_3Sb_2$ based compounds with 60~70% of relative density were prepared by powder compaction at room temperature and reactive liquid phase sintering at 1023 K for 4hrs. The stoichiometric $Mg_3Sb_2$ compounds were synthesized from elemental Sb and Mg powder in the mixing range of 61~63 at% Mg. The increased scattering effect due to the micro-pores reduced the mobility of the charge carrier and the phonon, which caused the electrical conductivity and the thermal conductivity to decrease, respectively. But the scattering effect was greater for the electrical conductivity than for the thermal conductivity. Excess Mg alloyed in the $Mg_3Sb_2$ compounds decreased the electrical conductivity, but had no effect on the thermal conductivity. On the other hand, the large increase of the Seebeck coefficient was the result of a decrease in the charge carrier density due to the excess Mg. Dimensionless figure of merit of the porous $Mg_3Sb_2$ compound reached a maximum value of 0.28 at 61 at% Mg. The obtained value was similar to that of $Mg_3Sb_2$ compounds having little pores.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.520-527
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• 1999

As a new approache(extrusion-sintering process) to fabricate the thermoelectric materials, it has been at tempted to extrude and sinter the powders simultaneously. It was possible to produce the highly dense <$(Bi,Sb)_2(Te,Se)_3$-based thermoelectrics with sound surface appearances and microstructures by adjusting the process variables. For the p-type materials, the Seeback coefficient was increased with the amount of Te dopants, and the thermoelectric figure of merit appeared to be $2.5\times10^{-3}/K$ at room temperature when doped with 3 at % Te. The n-type specimen doped with 0.16 mol% $SbI_3$ showed the thermoelectric figure of merit of $1.8\times10^{-3}/K$. In both p-type an 우-type materials, the carrier mobility an the thermoelectric figure of merit parallel to the extrusion direction were higher than those perpendicular to it.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2012.10a
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• pp.255-258
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• 2012

In this paper, with a thermoelectric device using the seebeck effect which generates electromotive force by temperature difference generates electric energy an energy harvesting circuit using MPPT(Maximun Power Point Traking) control is designed. After periodically sampling the open voltage of the thermoelectric device, the 1/2 voltage of open voltage which in a maximum power point is maintained through MPPT control circuit and harvested energy from thermoelectric device is delivered to load through a switch. The proposed thermal energy harvesting circuit is designed with $0.35{\mu}m$ CMOS process and the chip area excluding pads is $1168.7{\mu}m{\times}541.3{\mu}m$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.87-87
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• 2011

Oxide semiconductors are attractive materials for thin-film electronics and optoelectronics due to compatibility with synthesis on large-area, glass and flexible substrate. However, development of thin-film electronics has been hampered by the limited number of semiconducting oxides that are p-type. We report on the effect of the oxygen partial pressure ratio in the gas mixture on the electrical and optical properties of spinel Mg:$ZnCo_2O_4$ thin films deposited at room temperature using RF sputtering, that exhibit p-type conduction. The thin-films are deposited at room temperature in a background of oxygen using a polycrystalline Mg:$ZnCo_2O_4$ ablation target. The p-type conduction is confirmed by positive Seebeck coefficient and positive Hall coefficient. The electrical resistivity and carrier concentration in on dependent Mg:$ZnCo_2O_4$ thin films were found to be dependent on the oxygen partial pressure ratio. As a result, it is revealed that the Mg:$ZnCo_2O_4$ thin-films were greatly influenced on the electrical and optical properties by the oxygen partial pressure condition. The visible region of the spectrum of 36~85%, and hole mobility of 1.1~3.7 $cm^2$/Vs, were obtained.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.357-363
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• 2017

In this study, Bi-Sb-Te thermoelectric materials are produced by mechanical alloying (MA) and spark plasma sintering (SPS). To examine the influence of the milling atmosphere on the microstructure and thermo-electric (TE) properties, a p-type Bi-Sb-Te composite powder is mechanically alloyed in the presence of argon and air atmospheres. The oxygen content increases to 55% when the powder is milled in the air atmosphere, compared with argon. All grains are similar in size and uniformly, distributed in both atmospheric sintered samples. The Seebeck coefficient is higher, while the electrical conductivity is lower in the MA (Air) sample due to a low carrier concentration compared to the MA (Ar) sintered sample. The maximum figure of merit (ZT) is 0.91 and 0.82 at 350 K for the MA (Ar) and MA (Air) sintered samples, respectively. The slight enhancement in the ZT value is due to the decrease in the oxygen content during the MA (Ar) process. Moreover, the combination of mechanical alloying and SPS process shows a higher hardness and density values for the sintered samples.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.115-121
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• 2017

In this work, p-type Bi-Sb-Te alloys powders are prepared using gas atomization, a mass production powder preparation method involving rapid solidification. To study the effect of the sintering temperature on the microstructure and thermoelectric properties, gas-atomized powders are consolidated at different temperatures (623, 703, and 743 K) using spark plasma sintering. The crystal structures of the gas-atomized powders and sintered bulks are identified using an X-ray diffraction technique. Texture analysis by electron backscatter diffraction reveals that the grains are randomly oriented in the entire matrix, and no preferred orientation in any unique direction is observed. The hardness values decrease with increasing sintering temperature owing to a decrease in grain size. The conductivity increases gradually with increasing sintering temperature, whereas the Seebeck coefficient decreases owing to increases in the carrier mobility with grain size. The lowest thermal conductivity is obtained for the bulk sintered at a low temperature (603 K), mainly because of its fine-grained microstructure. A peak ZT of 1.06 is achieved for the sample sintered at 703 K owing to its moderate electrical conductivity and sustainable thermal conductivity.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.98-103
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• 2013

$Mg_{3-x}Zn_xSb_2$ powders with x = 0-1.2 were fabricated by mechanical alloying in a planetary ball mill with a speed of 350 rpm for 24 hrs and then hot pressed under a pressure of 70 MPa at 773 K for 2 hrs. It was found that there were systematic shifts in the X-ray diffraction peaks of $Mg_3Sb_2$ (x = 0) toward a higher angle with increasing Zn for both the powder and the bulk sample and finally the phase of $Mg_{1.86}Zn_{1.14}Sb_2$ was formed at the Zn content of x = 1.2. The $Mg_{3-x}Zn_xSb_2$ compounds had nano-sized grains of 21-30 nm for the powder and 28-66 nm for the hot pressed specimens. The electrical conductivity of hot pressed $Mg_{3-x}Zn_xSb_2$ increased with increasing Zn content and temperature from 33 $Sm^{-1}$ for x = 0 to 13,026 $Sm^{-1}$ for x = 1.2 at 323 K. The samples for all the compositions from x = 0 to x = 1.2 had positive Seebeck coefficients, which decreased with increasing Zn content and temperature, which resulted from the increased charge carrier concentration. Most of the samples had relatively low thermal conductivities comparable to the high performance thermoelectric materials. The dimensionless figure of merit of $Mg_{3-x}Zn_xSb_2$ was directly proportional to the Zn content except for the compound with Zn = 1.2 at high temperature. The $Mg_{3-x}Zn_xSb_2$ compound with Zn = 0.8 had the largest value of ZT, 0.33 at 723 K.