Enhanced Thermoelectric Properties of Cu x Se (1.75≤ x ≤2.10) during Phase Transitions

Coupling of a phase transition to electron and phonon transports provides extra degree of freedom to improve the thermoelectric performance, while the pertinent experimental and theoretical studies are still rare. Particularly, the impaction of chemical compositions and phase transition characters on the abnormal thermoelectric properties across phase transitions are largely unclear. Herein, by varying the Cu content x from 1.75 to 2.10, we systemically investigate the crystal structural evolution, phase transition features, and especially the thermoelectric properties during the phase transition for Cu x Se. It is found that the addition of over-stoichiometry Cu in Cu x Se could alter the phase transition characters and suppress the formation of Cu vacancies. The critical scatterings of phonons and electrons during phase transitions strongly enhance the Seebeck coefficient and diminish the thermal conductivity, leading to an ultrahigh dimensionless thermoelectric figure of merit of ∼1.38 at 397 K in Cu2.10Se. With the decreasing Cu content, the critical electron and phonon scattering behaviors are mitigated, and the corresponding thermoelectric performances are reduced. This work offers inspirations for understanding and tuning the thermoelectric transport properties during phase transitions.

Extremely Fast and Cheap Densification of Cu2S by Induction Melting Method

The aim of this work was to obtain dense Cu2S superionic thermoelectric materials, homogeneous in terms of phase and chemical composition, using a very fast and cheap induction-melting technique. The chemical composition was investigated via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with an energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) method, and the phase composition was established by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The thermoelectric figure of merit ZT was determined on the basis of thermoelectric transport properties, i.e., Seebeck coefficient, electrical and thermal conductivity in the temperature range of 300–923 K. The obtained values of the ZT parameter are comparable with those obtained using the induction hot pressing (IHP) technique and about 30–45% higher in the temperature range of 773–923 K in comparison with Cu2S samples densified with the spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique.

Advances in thermoelectric (GeTe) x (AgSbTe2)100-x

The (GeTe) x (AgSbTe2)100-x alloys, also called TAGS-x in short, have long been demonstrated as a promising candidate for thermoelectric applications with successful services as the p-type leg in radioisotope thermoelectric generators for space missions. This largely stems from the complex band structure for a superior electronic performance and strong anharmonicity for a low lattice thermal conductivity. Utilization of the proven strategies including carrier concentration optimization, band and defects engineering, an extraordinary thermoelectric figure of merit, zT, has been achieved in TAGS-based alloys. Here, crystal structure, band structure, microstructure, synthesis techniques and thermoelectric transport properties of TAGS-based alloys, as well as successful strategies for manipulating the thermoelectric performance, are surveyed with opportunities for further advancements. These strategies involved are believed to be in principle applicable for advancing many other thermoelectrics.