Solvothermal synthesis of wire-like SnxSb2Te3+x with an enhanced thermoelectric performance

Nanostructured tellurides have attracted increasing attention in thermoelectric applications for waste heat recovery and cooling devices. Here, we report on the synthesis of wire-like SnxSb2Te3+x (x = 0, 0.02 and 0.05) nanoparticles using elemental precursors in EG. The enhanced thermoelectric performance was achieved in alloyed samples due to the increase of carrier population in heavy valence band valleys by incorporating Sn(2+) at the Sb(3+) sublattice, enabling the simultaneous realization of low electrical resistivity along with a high Seebeck coefficient as well as the decline of thermal conductivity. Thus a boosted power factor and low thermal conductivity lead to the highest ZT value of 0.58 at 150 °C in the Sn0.02Sb2Te3.02 sample. Our research offers a general wet-chemical route for the preparation of one-dimensional nanomaterials and probably promotes the practical thermoelectric applications of Sb2Te3-based materials at low temperatures.