Published August 11, 2014 | Version v1
Journal article

Microstructure and mechanical properties of thermoelectric nanostructured n-type silicon-germanium alloys synthesized employing spark plasma sintering

  • 1. Department of Applied Physics, Delhi Technological University, Delhi (India)
  • 2. CSIR-Network of Institutes for Solar Energy, CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, Dr. K. S. Krishnan Marg, New Delhi 110012 (India)

Description

Owing to their high thermoelectric (TE) figure-of-merit, nanostructured Si80Ge20 alloys are evolving as a potential replacement for their bulk counterparts in designing efficient radio-isotope TE generators. However, as the mechanical properties of these alloys are equally important in order to avoid in-service catastrophic failure of their TE modules, we report the strength, hardness, fracture toughness, and thermal shock resistance of nanostructured n-type Si80Ge20 alloys synthesized employing spark plasma sintering of mechanically alloyed nanopowders of its constituent elements. These mechanical properties show a significant enhancement, which has been correlated with the microstructural features at nano-scale, delineated by transmission electron microscopy

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Applied Physics Letters
Journal Volume
105
Journal Issue
6
Journal Page Range
p. 061902-061902.5
ISSN
0003-6951
CODEN
APPLAB

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
46024187
Subject category
S36: MATERIALS SCIENCE;
Descriptors DEI
FRACTURE PROPERTIES; GERMANIUM ALLOYS; HARDNESS; MICROSTRUCTURE; NANOSTRUCTURES; N-TYPE CONDUCTORS; SILICON; SILICON ALLOYS; SINTERING; THERMAL SHOCK; TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
Descriptors DEC
ALLOYS; ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; ELEMENTS; FABRICATION; MATERIALS; MECHANICAL PROPERTIES; MICROSCOPY; SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS; SEMIMETALS

Optional Information

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