Institute of Metals Division - Electrical Resistivity and Thermoelectric Power of Antimony-Selenium Alloys

THIS investigation of antimony-selenium alloys was undertaken in an attempt to find a suitable material for use in power-generating thermocouples. The chief requirements for such a material are high thermoelectric power, low electrical resistivity and low thermal conductivity. Measurements of the first two properties mentioned are usually sufficient to determine whether or not a material is suitable for use in a thermoelectric generator. As a first approximation the requirements are: 1. Thermoelectric power greater than 200 microvolts per °C. 2. Electrical resistivity less than 0.002 ohm-cm. 3. Thermal conductivity less than 0.015 watt per cm per "C. These quantities are averages for the Operating temperature range. Previous Work Experimental investigations of equilibrium in the antimony - selenium system have been summarized by Han-sen². These investigations extended from 1906 to 1921. In Hansen's judgment, the most accurate phase diagram is that determined by Parravano, in 1913 and this is reproduced in the upper part of fig. 1. The most notable parts of this diagram are the liquid miscilibility gap, extending from about 12 to 36 wt pct selenium, and the intermediate phase Sb2Se3 containing 49.3 wt pct selenium. The crystal structure of Sb2Se3 has not been determined. Pelabon3,4 made measurements of the electrical resistivity of a few antimony-selenium alloys but his investigation was not very complete. He found that the resistivity increased with the selenium content and became very large as the composition of Sb2Se3 was approached. For alloys containing less than 50 at. pct (39.3 wt pet) selenium, he found that the resistivity increased regularly with temperature. For alloys containing larger amounts of selenium, he found various results: in some cases, the resistivity decreased with increas-