Figure of merit in Ytterbium-Aluminum-Manganese intermetallic thermoelectric and method of preparation
View Patent ↗This invention provides novel thermoelectric compounds comprising: a) atomic percent Ytterbium b) between 50 and 74.999 atomic percent Aluminum c) between 0.001 and 25 atomic percent Manganese and a process for their preparation.
1. A compound comprising:
a) 25 atomic percent Ytterbium;
b) between 50 and 74.999 atomic percent Aluminum; and
c) between 0.001 and 25 atomic percent Manganese.
2. A thermoelectric refrigerator comprising a component made from the composition of claim 1 .
3. A thermoelectric generator comprising a component made from the composition of claim 1 .
4. A thermoelectric heater comprising a component made from the composition of claim 1 .
5. A process comprising
a) mixing powders to form a mixture with the composition
i) 25 atomic percent Ytterbium
ii) between 50 and 74.999 atomic percent Aluminum
iii) between 0.001 and 25 atomic percent Manganese the composition having n-type electrical conductivity
b) pressing said mixture to form a pressed mixture
c) firing said pressed mixture at 800° C. for 12 hours in a vacuum furnace to form a calcined powder
d) grinding said calcined powder to form a ground powder, and
e) pressing said ground powder.