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Bottom-up processing of SnTe-AgSbTe2 composites with enhanced thermoelectric performance
Bingfei Nan1, Mengyao Li2, Yu Zhang3
1Key Laboratory of Eco-Functional Polymer Materials of the Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials of Gansu Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Catalonia Institute for Energy Research-IREC, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Barcelona 08930, Spain; Department of Physics, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
This study enhances lead-free tin telluride (SnTe) thermoelectric materials by alloying with silver antimony telluride (AgSbTe2) nanocrystals. This approach significantly improves thermoelectric performance, achieving a peak ZT of 1.28.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Solid State Physics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Tin telluride (SnTe) is a promising lead-free thermoelectric material.
- Practical applications are hindered by high hole concentration, low Seebeck coefficient, and high thermal conductivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance the thermoelectric properties of SnTe.
- To improve performance by alloying with AgSbTe2 nanocrystals.
Main Methods:
- Colloidal synthesis of AgSbTe2 nanocrystals with Sb2O3 impurities (s-AST).
- Alloying SnTe with s-AST via nanoparticle assembly and consolidation.
- Utilizing multiscale defects for phonon scattering.
Main Results:
- Suppressed lattice thermal conductivity to 0.45 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ at 750 K.
- Improved Seebeck coefficient via valence band convergence.
- Enhanced power factor to 2.79 mW m⁻¹ K⁻².
- Achieved a peak ZT of 1.28 at 823 K and average ZT of 0.52 (400-823 K).
Conclusions:
- Solution-processed SnTe-based materials show enhanced thermoelectric performance.
- Tailored electronic and phonon engineering is an effective strategy.
- Demonstrated potential for efficient lead-free thermoelectric devices.
