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Thermionic Refrigeration
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 February 2011
Abstract
The principles of thermionic refrigeration are explained. The simplest device is composed of two metal plates separated by a vacuum gap. This device is efficient at room temperature only for plates with small work functions (eø <0.3 eV). Small barriers are available in semiconductor-semiconductor interfaces (band off-sets) and in metal-semiconductor interfaces(Schottky barriers). An efficient refrigerator is modeled for these systems. Possible realizations are discussed.
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- Copyright © Materials Research Society 1999
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