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Semiconductor Clathrates: A pgec System with Potential for Thermoelectric Applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

G. S. Nolas
G. S. Nolas*
Affiliation:
R & D Division, Marlow Industries, Inc., 10451 Vista Park Rd., Dallas, Texas 75238
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Abstract

An investigation into the structural, chemical, electronic, and thermal properties of polycrystalline semiconductor clathrate compounds with different “guest” ions in the voids of these structures is presently underway by the author and his colleges. Despite the well-defined crystalline structure of these semiconductor materials, the thermal conductivity shows a magnitude and temperature dependence more typical of amorphous materials than crystalline materials. The localized low frequency vibrations of these “guest” ions is believed to interact with the acoustic phonons of the host lattice resulting in a very low thermal conductivity. Indeed in the case of Ge-clathrates a “glass-like” thermal conductivity was observed. The markedly low thermal conductivity displayed by these semiconductor materials, along with the high power factors, demonstrates the potential of this material system for thermoelectric applications.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 545: Symposium Z – Thermoelectric Materials 1998 - The Next Generation… , 1998 , 435
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1999

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