Work

Rapid fabrication of diffusion barrier between metal electrode and thermoelectric materials using current-controlled spark plasma sintering technique

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: A continuous, stable diffusion barrier between PbTe thermoelectric material and Ni conducting electrode was generated using the current-controlled spark plasma sintering technique. This new method creates a diffusion barrier layer by utilising the melt generated in the area of contact between components, also called the weld nugget in a resistance spot welding process. The current-controlled spark plasma sintering process bonds the solid workpieces in a fraction of the time required to fabricate interphase layers using powder components with the common temperature-controlled spark plasma sintering. The substantially reduced time of bonding compared to previous methods is beneficial to the thermoelectric properties of materials due to their limited exposure to high temperatures, which occasionally are much higher than the operating temperatures of devices. This work introduces a rapid and efficient bonding technique that can be applied to a wide variety of materials.

Source: Journal of Materials Research and Technology

DOI: 10.1016/j.jmrt.2018.01.008

Authors: Xavier Reales Ferreres, Sima Aminorroaya Yamini

Institutions: University of Wollongong, Sheffield Hallam University

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Thermoelectric Materials and Devices

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,640