Development of thermoelectric thin films and characterization methods

Abstract

This work reports on the fabrication of thin films of inorganic thermoelectric materials like borides, germanides, manganese compounds, and characterization of their thermoelectric properties. We have utilized a unique high temperature molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) apparatus to grow hexaboride thin films and manganese germanides. Magnetic manganese based alloy thin films were also grown using sputtering, since we are interested in the possibilities of utilizing magnetism to develop thermoelectric materials.