Preparation, Phase-Boundary Energies, and Thermoelectric Properties of InSb-Sb Eutectic Alloys with Ordered Microstructures

Abstract

Two-phase solids, single-crystal rods of Sb in a matrix of single-crystal InSb, have been prepared by eutectic crystallization. The size of the Sb rods decreases with increasing crystallization velocity, in quantitative agreement with the theory of eutectic crystallization. The boundary energy between the InSb and the Sb phases was determined both from the parameters of the crystallization and from a dislocation model. Both values agree, indicating that the strain energy of the dislocations at the phase boundary is the chief contributor to the interfacial energy. The electrical resistivity ρ, the thermoelectric power Q, and the thermal conductivity K have been measured as a function of the structural arrangement of the two phases in the alloys. The magnitudes of ρ and Q have been explained by simple electrical analogs of the eutectic structure. A characteristic decrease of the thermal conductivity of the eutectic alloys has been observed. The reduction in K is probably caused by interaction of phonons with the phase boundaries.

Development of novel thermoelectric materials by reduction of lattice thermal conductivity

“…For example, crystals pulled from an InSb-Sb eutectic alloy, which forms rods of Sb as thin as 4 µm in the InSb matrix, show a clear decrease in thermal conductivity with decreasing rod diameter, both parallel and perpendicular to the rod axis [19]. However, because the interfaces were coherent, no significant reduction in electrical conductivity or Seebeck coefficient was observed.…”

Characterization of Directionally Solidified B<SUB>4</SUB>C-TiB<SUB>2</SUB> Composites Prepared by a Floating Zone Method

“…The directional solidification is advantageous to control the texture particularly for eutectic composites. [18][19][20][21] In the present work, directionally solidified B 4 CTiB 2 eutectic composites were prepared by a floating zone (FZ) method, and the electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, hardness and electric discharge machinability were investigated.…”

Features of electron and phonon processes in GaSb–FeGa1.3eutectics

“…Taking continuity of the thermal flow into account, Leonov et al [7] applied the model for InSb-NiSb eutectic alloys. According to Liebman and Miller [6] and Leonov et al [7], the eutectic structure can be represented as two parallel conductors in the case of I x and as a combination of parallel and series conductors in the case of I ⊥x. So, electrical conductivity parallel to the metal inclusions (σ ) and perpendicular to the metal inclusions (σ ⊥ ) may be determined by the following formulae:…”

“…At present, eutectic alloys based on A 3 B 5 compounds find a wide area of applications for creation of galvanomagnetic, thermomagnetic, photothermomagnetic and strain sensitive transducers [1][2][3][4][5]. A number of works have been dedicated to experimental study to develop eutectic alloys with uniformly distributed parallel metal needles [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9].…”