Progress report No. 23 for a program of thermoelectric generator testing and RTG degradation mechanisms evaluation

Research is reported on selenide technology evaluation, silicon germanium technology, and thermoelectric generator testing and evaluation. Results of thermal conductivity tests, in-gradient tests, thermophysical properties and compatibility tests, and accelerated resistance module tests for selenium are presented and discussed. Thermoelectric property characteristics of silicon germanium alloys are presented, and performance characteristics of silicon germanium thermoelectric generators are discussed. Thermoelectric generators assembled with lead telluride, TAG-85, and silicon-germanium materials being tested at JPL are described. (WHK)