Thin film thermoelectric generator cell of Bi-Sb-Te-Se system

Abstract

Thin film thermoelectric generator cells (TFTEGCs) of the Bi-Sb-Te-Se system were fabricated and their performances were investigated. The generator cells were composed of several layers of plate-modules, and each plate-module contained 15 p/n couples and was connected electrically in series or in parallel. Variations of the open circuit voltage, short circuit current and maximum output power as a function of temperature difference showed a linear relationship for the first two values, but there was a second-order relationship for the latter. The output power produced per couple and per unit temperature difference was a 3.5 nW/K couple.