Patent ID: 8388883

Claim:
A process for producing thermoelectric semiconductor materials by co-melting mixtures of the particular element constituents of the thermoelectric semiconductor materials or alloys thereof in an induction furnace and pouring the melt thus obtained into the mold of a thermoelectric leg, or spraying the melt thus obtained to produce a pulverulent thermoelectric semiconductor material, wherein low reactivity element constituents of the thermoelectric semiconductor materials are first co-melted, and then high reactivity element constituents of the thermoelectric semiconductor materials are added to this melt, wherein low reactivity element constituents are one or more members selected from the group consisting of Al, Si, B, Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Cu, Co, Ni, noble metals, and alloys thereof, and wherein high reactivity element constituents of the thermoelectric semiconductor materials are one or more members selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, Sn, Ga, In, TI, As, P, Sb, Bi, S, Se, Te, halides, chalcogenides, V, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cd, and alloys thereof.