Abstract:
THE INVENTION RELATES TO A CONTACT PIECE FOR A SEMICONDUCTOR, WHEREIN SILICON CONSTITUTES AN ALLOYING COMPONENT OF THE SEMICONDUCTOR AND OF THE CONTACT PIECE, AND TO A METHOD OF ITS PRODUCTION. THE CONTACT PIECE IS PRIMARILY USED FOR CONTACTING SEMCONDUCTOR BODIES IN THERMOELECTRIC DEVICES, PARTICULARLY THERMOGENERATORS AND HAS THE GENERAL COMPOSITION: ME(I)Y ME(II)1-Y)XSI1-X WHEREIN 0.5 $Y$0.9 AND 0.05$X$0.35 AND MEI AND MEII ARE EACH A METAL OF THE IV, V, VI, VII OR VIII SECONDARY GROUPS OF THE PERIODIC TABLE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TECHNETIUM.
Abstract:
1. A THIN FILM PHOTOVOLATIC CELL WITH UP TO AT LEAST 4% SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION EFFICIENCY, COMPRISING (A) A FLEXIBLE ANODIZED ALUMINUM FOIL, AND (B) A PLURALITY OF FLEXIBLE THIN FILMS ADHERENTLY SUPERPOSED THEREON,
(C) AT LEAST TWO OF SAID FILMS FORMING A PHOTOVOLTAIC BARIER JUNCTION, AT LEAST A PORTION OF EACH OF THE SAID TWO FILMS HAVING AN ELECTRODE IN OHMIC CONTACT THEREWITH, ONE OF THE SAID BARRIER JUNCTION FILMS CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF CDS OF NOT MORE THAN 1.5-MICRON THICKNESS, THE OTHER OF SAID BARRIER JUNCTION FILMS, CONSISTING, ESSENTIAL OF CUXSY OF NOT MORE THAN 0.2-MICRON THICKNESS.
Abstract:
Mercury oxychlorides have been discovered to possess thermoelectric properties. These materials are extrinsic, n-type semiconductors. They are particularly useful in heat pumps utilized for cooling applications. The mercury oxychlorides may be modified by the replacement of up to about 95 mole percent of the chlorine with another halogen.
Abstract:
IN DEVICES USED HITHERTO FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF HEAT INTO ELECTRICITY, COMMONLY KNOWN AS "THERMOELECTRIC ENERGY CONVERTERS," THE EFFICIENCY OF CONVERSION IS APPRECIABLY LOWER THAN THAT OF CONVENTIONAL RECIPROCATING OR ROTARY HEAT ENGINES. THE BASIC REASON FOR THIS LOW EFFICIENCY IS INHERENT IN THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MATERIALS SELECTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF THESE DEVICES. THE MATERIALS THAT HAVE BEEN AND ARE CURRENTLY BEING USED FOR THIS PURPOSE ARE INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS AND ALLOYS OF SILICON AND GERMANIUM. IN THIS INVENTION AN ENTIRELY NEW MATERIAL IS DEVELOPED. IT IS COMPOSED OF AN ALLOY OR SOLID SOLUTION OF THE THREE INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS: MAGNESIUM STANNIDE, MAGNESIUM GERMANIDE AND MAGNESIUM SILICIDE, AND DEFINED BY THE CHEMICAL FORMULA: MG2SIXGEYSN1-X-Y. THIS MATERIAL, WHEN PROPERLY DOPED, POSSESSES A FIGURE OF MERIT AND, CONSEQUENTLY, AN EFFICIENCY OF DIRECT CONVERSION OF THERMAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY FAR EXCEEDING THAT OF ANY OTHER MATERIAL PREVIOUSLY KNOWN OR USED.