Enhanced Thermoelectric Properties of the Zn1-xCdxSb Prepared by Solid State Microwave Synthesis

Abstract

This paper displays the fabrication of a thermoelectric (TE) generation module using n-ZnSb and p-Zn0.25Cd0.75Sb bulk TE materials. TE properties of the Zn1-xCdxSb bulks with x= 0, 0.5 and 0.75, in terms of the electrical conductivity () and Seebeck coefficient (S) were measured in the range of 300-500K. The higher power factor (S2σ) values for n-ZnSb and p-Zn0.25Cd0.75Sb bulks were obtained about 2.410-4mW/mK2 at 303K and 1.1810-5 mW/mK2 at 468K, respectively. By variation of the thermal conditions, the maximum output power (Pmax) with two p-n couples generator module was 1.3810-5 mW at hot side temperature of 355K and temperature difference () of 40K. The internal (Rin = 0.17 m) and contact resistances (Rc = 0.67 m) between legs and electrodes were discussed below.