DIFFUSION BARRIERS FOR SEMICONDUCTIVE THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR ELEMENTS

• US 3,650,844 A
• Filed: 09/19/1968
• Issued: 03/21/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James H. Bredt, Louis F. Kendall Jr
• Original Assignee: James H. Bredt, Louis F. Kendall Jr
• Inventors: Kendall, Louis F. Jr., Bredt, James H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Padgett, Benjamin R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Behrend, Harvey E.
• Application Number:
  US04/760,989
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 136/205,237
• US Class Current: 136/237
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/817 the junction being non-separable, e.g. being cemented, sintered or soldered
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 257/93 Thermoelectric, e.g. peltier effect cooling

Abstract

In the manufacture of thermoelectric generators of the lead telluride type, it is desirable that the joints between the thermoelements and the electrodes or bridging members have low electrical resistance and resist fracture during thermal cycling. When materials having a linear coefficient of thermal expansion which is near that of the lead telluride, such as AISI Type 300 stainless steels are used, mechanical failure due to thermal mismatch is eliminated, but unwanted diffusion from the ferrous body into the lead telluride. It has been found that a thin diffusion barrier of iron, molybdenum or tungsten will prevent this degradation.

Claims

2. A thermoelectric generator element according to claim 1 wherein said support member is composed of an AISI Type 300 stainless steel.

3. The thermoelectric generator element according to claim 2 wherein said layer is composed of iron.

4. The thermoelectric generator element according to claim 2 wherein said layer is composed of molybdenum.

5. The thermoelectric generator element according to claim 2 wherein said layer is composed of tungsten.

6. The thermoelectric generator element according to claim 2 wherein said first surface is joined to said layer by means of a thin telluride brazed joint.