Developing contacts for MgAgSb-based thermoelectric generators powering the future Lunar base

Kurzfassung

This study focuses on the functionalization of MgAgSb α-phase, which potential as a p-type thermoelectric material has been first identified by Kirkham et al. (33). The synthesis process has then been optimized in a number of recent works (34–37) to reach a maximum zT of around 1.3 at 575 K with a nominal composition of MgAg0.97Sb0.995. Mg-based modules using α-MgAgSb as the p-type material have been reported, and show for instance a maximum conversion efficiency of 6.4 % and a maximum power output of 0.68 W with Mg2(Si,Sn) solid solution as the n-type counterpart (38), or even a maximum conversion efficiency of 8.5 % when combined with Mg3Sb2 (39). While those works demonstrated remarkable progress, they also pointed out that electrical contact resistances are responsible for power and efficiency losses up to 20 % (38).