Alumina paste sublimation suppression barrier for thermoelectric device
Alumina as a sublimation suppression barrier for a Zintl thermoelectric material in a thermoelectric power generation device operating at high temperature, e.g. at or above 1000K, is disclosed. The Zintl thermoelectric material may comprise Yb 14 MnSb 11 . The alumina may be applied as an adhesive paste dried and cured on a substantially oxide free surface of the Zintl thermoelectric material and polished to a final thickness. The sublimation suppression barrier may be finalized by baking out the alumina layer on the Zintl thermoelectric material until it becomes substantially clogged with ytterbia.
1. A thermoelectric device, comprising:
a Zintl thermoelectric material for generating electrical power from heat; and
an alumina layer coating a substantially oxide free surface of the Zintl thermoelectric material, the alumina layer coating the substantially oxide free surface where sublimation of the Zintl thermoelectric material would otherwise occur;
wherein the alumina layer is porous and clogged with a byproduct of sublimation of the Zintl thermoelectric material and the Zintl thermoelectric material generates that electrical power at a temperature of at least 1000K; and
wherein the Zintl thermoelectric material comprises Yb 14 MnSb 11 .
2. The thermoelectric device of claim 1 , wherein the Zintl thermoelectric material operates substantially in a vacuum.
3. The thermoelectric device of claim 1 , wherein the heat for generating the electrical power is generated by a decaying radioisotope.
4. The thermoelectric device of claim 1 , wherein the alumina layer is polished to a final thickness.
5. The thermoelectric device of claim 1 , wherein the alumina layer is at least 100 μm thick.
6. The thermoelectric device of claim 1 , wherein the alumina layer is applied in an adhesive paste dried and cured on the substantially oxide free surface of the Zintl thermoelectric material.