Refrigeration principle of semiconductor thermoelectric materials

The application of semiconductor thermoelectric materials in the field of refrigeration has important research value and broad application prospects. Thermoelectric materials use temperature difference to directly convert thermal energy into electrical energy, or reversely use electrical energy for heat regulation, forming the basic principle of thermoelectric refrigeration. This article will explore the refrigeration mechanism and application of semiconductor thermoelectric materials.

There are two main thermoelectric effects: Seebeck effect and Peltier effect. (Intelligent Temperature manufacturer china) The Seebeck effect refers to the voltage generated when two different conductors or semiconductors form a loop and there is a temperature difference at the contact point; while the Peltier effect is when the current passes through the junction of two different conductors, it will cause the temperature of the junction to change. When the current flows in the right direction, one end absorbs heat and the other end releases heat, and this process realizes the transfer of heat.

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The core role of semiconductor thermoelectric materials in thermoelectric refrigeration is mainly attributed to their excellent thermoelectric properties, that is, high electrical conductivity and low thermal conductivity. Excellent electrical conductivity allows the material to effectively use current to generate heat, while low thermal conductivity ensures that heat is not easily transferred from the cold end to the hot end, thereby improving the refrigeration efficiency. Thermoelectric performance is often characterized by the thermoelectric figure of merit ZT. The higher the ZT value, the better the thermoelectric performance of the material. An ideal thermoelectric material should have a high ZT value so that it can achieve a higher cooling effect in practical applications.

In practical applications, commonly used types of semiconductor thermoelectric materials include bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3), bismuth antimonide (Sb2Te3) and silicon-germanium alloys. Among them, bismuth telluride material has become one of the main materials for thermoelectric refrigerators because of its excellent thermoelectric properties at room temperature. Its cooling effect is widely used in small refrigeration devices, such as hot and cold cups, laser cooling and temperature control of electronic components.

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The structure of a thermoelectric refrigerator is usually composed of multiple semiconductor junctions of thermoelectric materials to form a module. Using the Peltier effect, when current passes through, one side of the refrigerator absorbs heat and the other side releases heat, creating a temperature difference to achieve a cooling effect. In practical use, this cooling method has the advantages of small size, light weight and no moving parts, and can achieve rapid temperature regulation in a highly precise environment.

However, despite the many advantages of semiconductor thermoelectric materials, their efficiency is still limited by the performance of the material itself. Therefore, researchers are committed to developing new thermoelectric materials, such as nanostructured materials and sulfides, to improve the ZT value and thus improve the efficiency of thermoelectric coolers.

In short, the cooling principle of semiconductor thermoelectric materials is based on the thermoelectric effect. Through effective material design and optimization, high-efficiency cooling effects can be achieved. With the development of science and technology, thermoelectric materials will show their unique application potential in a wider range of fields. Future research will continue to promote the advancement of this green cooling technology and bring innovative solutions to more industries.