Band engineering and precipitation enhance thermoelectric performance of SnTe with Zn-doping

We have systematically studied the thermoelectric properties in Zn-doped Sn Te.Strikingly,band convergence and embedded precipitates arising from Zn doping,can trigger a prominent improvement of thermoelectric performance.In particular,the value of dimensionless figure of merit z T has increased by 100% and up to ~ 0.5 at 775 K for the optimal sample with 2% Zn content.Present findings demonstrate that carrier concentration and effective mass play crucial roles on the Seebeck coefficient and power factor.The obvious deviation from the Pisarenko line(Seebeck coefficient versus carrier concentration) due to Zn-doping reveals the convergence of valence bands.When the doping concentration exceeds the solubility,precipitates occur and lead to a reduction of lattice thermal conductivity.In addition,bipolar conduction is suppressed,indicating an enlargement of band gap.The Zn-doped Sn Te is shown to be a promising candidate for thermoelectric applications.     

Electronic and thermoelectric properties of Mg_2Ge_xSn-_(1-x)(x=0.25,0.50,0.75) solid solutions by first-principles calculations

The electronic structure and thermoelectric(TE) properties of Mg_2Ge_xSn_(1-x)(x = 0.25, 0.50, 0.75) solid solutions are investigated by first-principles calculations and semi-classical Boltzmann theory. The special quasi-random structure(SQS) is used to model the solid solutions, which can produce reasonable band gaps with respect to experimental results.The n-type solid solutions have an excellent thermoelectric performance with maximum zT values exceeding 2.0, where the combination of low lattice thermal conductivity and high power factor(PF) plays an important role. These values are higher than those of pure Mg_2Sn and Mg_2Ge. The p-type solid solutions are inferior to the n-type ones, mainly due to the much lower PF. The maximum zT value of 0.62 is predicted for p-type Mg_2Ge_(0.25)Sn_(0.75) at 800K. The results suggest that the n-type Mg_2Ge_xSn_(1-x) solid solutions are promising mid-temperature TE materials.     

Thermoelectric performance of quaternary Mg2(1+x)Si0.2Ge0.1Sn0.7 (0.06 ≤ x ≤ 0.12) solid solutions with band convergence

The study of Mg₂Si based thermoelectric materials has received widespread attention. In this research, quaternary Mg_2(1+x)(Si_0.2Ge_0.1Sn_0.7)_0.99Sb_0.01 (0.06≤x ≤ 0.12) solid solutions with an optimized Sb doping were prepared by B₂O₃ flux method combined with spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique. The Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity were measured as a function of Mg excess between 300 K and 780 K. The electron concentration, electrical conductivity and lattice thermal conductivity increase while the Seebeck coefficient decreases with increasing magnesium excess content. The electron effective mass enhancement for x ≥ 0.08 suggests the conduction band convergence of Mg₂Si_0.2Ge_0.1Sn_0.7. Mg_2.16(Si_0.2Ge_0.1Sn_0.7)_0.99Sb_0.01 with a maximum dimensionless figure of merit of 0.94 at 780 K stand out as one of the best materials for intermediate temperature applications, providing a good nontoxic alternative to PbTe.     

I型锗基笼合物Ba8Ga16-xSbxGe30的合成及热电性能

用高温熔融结合放电等离子烧结（SPS）方法合成了Sb掺杂的单相n型Ba8Ga16-xSbxGe30化合物，探索了Sb对Ga的取代对其热电性能的影响规律．研究结果表明：随着Sb取代分数x的增加，Seebeck系数逐渐降低，Seebeck系数峰值对应的温度向低温方向偏移．电导率随着x的增加先增大后减小，当x=2时达到最大值．Sb取代Ga后对化合物的热性能有较大影响，其热导率和晶格热导率都有不同程度的降低．在所有n型Ba8Ga16-xSbxGe30化合物中，Ba8Ga14Sb2Ge30化合物的ZT值最大，在950K左右其最大ZY值达1．1．     

Ⅰ型锗基笼合物Ba8Ga16-xSbxGe30的合成及热电性能

用高温熔融结合放电等离子烧结(SPS)方法合成了Sb掺杂的单相n型Ba8Ga16-xSbxGe30化合物,探索了Sb对Ga的取代对其热电性能的影响规律.研究结果表明随着Sb取代分数x的增加,Seebeck系数逐渐降低,Seebeck系数峰值对应的温度向低温方向偏移.电导率随着x的增加先增大后减小,当x=2时达到最大值.Sb取代Ga后对化合物的热性能有较大影响,其热导率和晶格热导率都有不同程度的降低.在所有n型Ba8Ga16-xSbxGe30化合物中,Ba8Ga14Sb2Ge30化合物的ZT值最大,在950 K左右其最大ZT值达1.1.     

Galvanomagnetic and thermoelectric properties of p-Bi2?xSbxTe3?ySey solid solutions at low temperatures (<220 K)

The galvanomagnetic and thermoelectric properties of p-Bi_2−x Sb_xTe_3−y Se_y solid solutions (x≤1.2, y≤0.09) are studied for various carrier concentrations. The degeneracy parameter β_d governing the scattering processes in solid solutions was calculated in terms of the many-valley energy spectrum model. The data on the degeneracy parameter and the Seebeck coefficient α were used to calculate the effective scattering parameter r _eff and the reduced Fermi level η. The parameter r _eff was found to depend on the carrier concentration in the materials studied. The temperature dependences of the effective density-of-states mass m/m ₀ and mobility μ₀ in samples with various carrier concentrations were determined. __________ Translated from Fizika Tverdogo Tela, Vol. 46, No. 8, 2004, pp. 13662–1371. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2004 by Luk’yanova, Kutasov, Popov, Konstantinov.     

Effect of nanocomposite structure on the thermoelectric properties of 0.7-at% Bi-doped Mg2Si nanocomposite

Nanocomposites offer a promising approach to the incorporation of nanostructured constituents into bulk thermoelectric materials. The 0.7-at% Bi-doped Mg₂Si nanocomposites are prepared by spark plasma sintering of the mixture of nanoscale and microsized 0.7-at% Bi-doped Mg₂Si powders. Microstructure analysis shows that the bulk material is composed of nano- and micrograins. Although the nanograin hinders electrical conduction, the nanocomposite structure is more helpful to reduce thermal conductivity and increase the Seebeck coefficient, hence improving thermoelectric performance. A dimensionless figure of merit of 0.8 is obtained for the 0.7-at% Bi-doped Mg₂Si nanocomposite with 50-wt % nanopowder, which is about twice larger than that of the sample without nanopowder.     

Effect of pressure on electronic and thermoelectric properties of magnesium silicide: A density functional theory study

We study the effect of pressure on electronic and thermoelectric properties of Mg_2Si using the density functional theory and Boltzmann transport equations. The variation of lattice constant, band gap, bulk modulus with pressure is also analyzed. Further, the thermoelectric properties(Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, electronic thermal conductivity) have been studied as a function of temperature and pressure up to 1200 K. The results show that Mg_2Si is an n-type semiconductor with a band gap of 0.21 eV. The negative value of the Seebeck coefficient at all pressures indicates that the conduction is due to electrons. With the increase in pressure, the Seebeck coefficient decreases and electrical conductivity increases. It is also seen that, there is practically no effect of pressure on the electronic contribution of thermal conductivity.The paper describes the calculation of the lattice thermal conductivity and figure of merit of Mg_2Si at zero pressure. The maximum value of figure of merit is attained 1.83 × 10~(-3) at 1000 K. The obtained results are in good agreement with the available experimental and theoretical results.     

Electron spin resonance study of the LaIn(3-x)Sn(x) superconducting system

The LaIn(3-x)Sn(x) alloy system is composed of superconducting Pauli paramagnets. For LaIn3 the superconducting critical temperature T(c) is approximately 0.7 K and it shows an oscillatory dependence as a function of Sn substitution, presenting its highest value T(c) ≈ 6.4 K for the LaSn3 end member. The superconducting state of these materials was characterized as being of the conventional type. We report our results for Gd3+ electron spin resonance measurements in the LaIn(3-x)Sn(x) compounds as a function of x. We show that the effective exchange interaction parameter J(fs) between the Gd3+ 4f local moment and the s-like conduction electrons is almost unchanged by Sn substitution and observe microscopically that LaSn3 is a conventional superconductor.     

PbSe-MnSe纳米复合热电材料的微结构和电热输运性能

相比于常见的热电材料PbTe, 另一种硫族铅化合物PbSe具有熔点高、Se储量更丰富等优势, 从而越来越受到科学界的关注. 本文采用熔融淬火结合快速热压烧结工艺制备了Pb_0.98-xMn_xNa_0.02Se(0 ≤x ≤ 0.12)纳米复合热电材料, 系统地研究了不同Mn含量对材料微纳结构、机械性能和热电性能的影响规律. 发现纳米复合样品中有面心立方结构的MnSe球状和薄层状析出物, 显微硬度得到显著增强. 少量固溶的Mn增加了能带简并度, 使功率因子提高, 球状析出物使声子散射增强、热导率降低, 体系的热电优值ZT得到优化; 但是当Mn含量更高时, 赛贝克系数趋于饱和, 连续析出物使晶格热导率反常增大, ZT 没有得到进一步改善. 通过进一步调节Na含量优化了载流子浓度, 获得了ZT=0.65的PbSe-MnSe纳米复合热电材料.     

From stable divalent to valence-fluctuating behaviour in Eu(Rh(1-x)Ir(x))2Si2 single crystals

We have succeeded in growing high-quality single crystals of the valence-fluctuating system EuIr(2)Si(2), the divalent Eu system EuRh(2)Si(2) and the substitutional alloy Eu(Rh(1-x)Ir(x))(2)Si(2) across the range 0 < x < 1, which we characterized by means of x-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, specific heat, magnetization and resistivity measurements. On increasing x, the divalent Eu ground state subsists up to x = 0.25 with a slight increase in Néel temperature, while for 0.3≤x < 0.7 a sharp hysteretic change in susceptibility and resistivity marks the first-order valence transition. For x?0.7 the broad feature observed in the physical properties is characteristic of the continuous valence evolution beyond the critical end point of the valence transition line, and the resistivity is reminiscent of Kondo-like behaviour while the Sommerfeld coefficient indicates a mass renormalization of at least a factor of 8. The resulting phase diagram is similar to those reported for polycrystalline Eu(Pd(1-x)Au(x))(2)Si(2) and EuNi(2)(Si(1-x)Ge(x))(2), confirming its generic character for Eu systems, and markedly different to those of homologue Ce and Yb systems, which present a continuous suppression of the antiferromagnetism accompanied by a very smooth evolution of the valence. We discuss these differences and suggest them to be related to the large polarization energy of the Eu half-filled 4f shell. We further argue that the changes in the rare earth valence between RRh(2)Si(2) and RIr(2)Si(2) (R = Ce, Eu, Yb) are governed by a purely electronic effect and not by a volume effect.     

First principle investigation of the electronic and thermoelectric properties of Mg_2C

In this paper, electronic and thermoelectric properties of Mg_2C are investigated by using first principle pseudo potential method based on density functional theory and Boltzmann transport equations. We calculate the lattice parameters,bulk modulus, band gap and thermoelectric properties(Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity) of this material at different temperatures and compare them with available experimental and other theoretical data. The calculations show that Mg_2C is indirect band semiconductor with a band gap of 0.75 eV. The negative value of Seebeck coefficient shows that the conduction is due to electrons. The electrical conductivity decreases with temperature and Power factor(PF) increases with temperature. The thermoelectric properties of Mg_2C have been calculated in a temperature range of 100 K–1200 K.     

Theoretical study on electronic structure and thermoelectric properties of PbS_xTe_(1-x)(x = 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75) solid solution

The electronic structure and thermoelectric(TE) properties of PbS_xTe_(1-x)(x = 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75) solid solution have been studied by combining the first-principles calculations and semi-classical Boltzmann theory. The special quasirandom structure(SQS) method is used to model the solid solutions of PbS_xTe_(1-x), which can produce reasonable electronic structures with respect to experimental results. The maximum zT value can reach 1.67 for p-type PbS0.75Te0.25 and 1.30 for PbS0.5Te0.5 at 800 K, respectively. The performance of p-type PbS_xTe_(1-x) is superior to the n-type ones, mainly attributed to the higher effective mass of the carriers. The z T values for PbS_xTe_(1-x) solid solutions are higher than that of pure Pb Te and Pb S, in which the combination of low thermal conductivity and high power factor play important roles.     

Excellent thermoelectric performance predicted in Sb2Te with natural superlattice structure

Using first-principles calculations combined with the Boltzmann transport theory, we explore the thermoelectric properties of natural superlattice (SL) structure Sb₂Te. The results show that n-type Sb₂Te possesses larger Seebeck coefficient of 249.59 (318.87) μV/K than p-type Sb₂Te of 219.85 (210.38) μV/K and low lattice thermal conductivity of 1.25 (0.21) W/mK along the in-plane (out-of-plane) direction at 300 K. The excellent electron transport performance is mainly attributed to steeper density of state around the bottom of conduction band. The ultralow lattice thermal conductivity of Sb₂Te is mainly caused by low phonon group velocity and strong anharmonicity. Further analysis shows that the decrease of group velocity comes from flatter dispersion curves which are contributed by the Brillouin-zone folding. The strong anharmonicity is mainly due to the presence of lone-pair electrons in Sb₂Te. Combining such a high Seebeck coefficient with the low lattice thermal conductivity, maximum n-type thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of 1.46 and 1.38 could be achieved along the in-plane and out-of-plane directions at room temperature, which is higher than the reported values of Sb₂Te₃. The findings presented here provide insight into the transport property of Sb₂Te and highlight potential applications of thermoelectric materials at room temperature.     

Effect of the band structure on the thermoelectric properties of a semiconductor

The dependence of the thermoelectric parameters of a material on the band position and carrier effective masses is studied theoretically. The optimum parameters providing an increase in the thermoelectric figure-of-merit are specified. The results obtained are applied to the n-type Mg₂Si-Mg₂Sn solid solutions, in which the complex structure of the conduction band is one of the factors responsible for an increase in the thermoelectric efficiency.     

Epitaxial growth and band alignment of (Gd(x)La(1-x))(2)O(3) films on n-GaAs (001)

Herein we demonstrate the epitaxial stabilization of single-crystalline (Gd(x)La(1-x))(2)O(3) films on n-GaAs (001) with a controlled lattice match. (Gd(x)La(1-x))(2)O(3) films have an in-plane epitaxial relationship with a twofold rotation on GaAs (001). Spectroscopic characterization by photoemission and absorption confirms that the band gap of (Gd(x)La(1-x))(2)O(3) film is approximately approximately 5.8eV. However, the conduction band offset is increased by the unpinned Fermi level of the n-GaAs in the (Gd(x)La(1-x))(2)O(3) film (x=0.97). The correlation of the crystalline property and the interfacial band offset by the electrical properties, as probed by capacitance and leakage current measurements, is also discussed.     

Yb/Sr双原子复合填充的Ⅰ-型Yb_x Sr_(8-x)Ga_(16)Ge_(30)笼合物的合成及热电性能

用熔融法结合放电等离子烧结(SPS)合成了Yb/Sr双原子复合填充的n型Yb_x Sr_(8-x)Ga_(16)Ge_(30)(x=0,0.5,1.0,1.5)笼合物,研究了双原子复合填充及Yb填充量x对Yb_x Sr_(8-x)Ga_(16)Ge_(30)笼合物热电传输特性的影响规律.结果表明,Yb在Yb_x Sr_(8-x)Ga_(16)Ge_(30)化合物中的固溶极限介于1.0-1.5之间.随着Yb填充量x的增加,化合物的室温载流子浓度增加而迁移率降低.在300-800 K温度范围内,随着x的增加,双原子填充试样的电导率逐渐增大,Seebeck系数逐渐减小,其中x=0.5的试样与单原子填充的Sr_8Ga_(16)Ge_(30)试样相比,电导率变化不大,Seebeck系数显著增加.Yb/Sr双原子复合填充比Sr单原子填充更有利于晶格热导率的降低,且晶格热导率随着Yb填充量x的增加逐渐降低.在所有n型Yb_x Sr_(8-x)Ga_(16)Ge_(30)化合物中Yb_(1.0) Sr_(7.0)Ga_(16)Ge_(30)化合物的ZT值最大,在800 K时其最大ZT值达0.81,与单原子填充的Sr_8Ga_(16)Ge_(30)化合物相比ZT值提高了35%.

Abstract：

n-type Yb/Sr double-atom-filled Yb_xSr_(8-x)Ga_(16)Ge_(30) (x = 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5) elathrates have been synthesized by combining melting reaction with the spark plasma sintering (SPS) method. The effects of double-atom fining on thermoelectric properties have been investigated. The results show that the solubility limit of Yb in the Sr-Ga-Ge system is between 1.0 and 1.5 when it is expressed by the formula of Yb_xSr_(8-x)Ga_(16)Ge_(30). With increasing Yb content x, the room-temperature carrier concentration of the Yb_xSr_(8-x)Ga_(16)Ge_(30) samples increases, while the room-temperature carrier mobility decreases. For the double-atom-filled samples, the electrical conductivity raises with increasing x, while the Seebeck coefficient reduces, and in which the x = 0.5 sample has a comparable electrical conductivity and a remarkably higher $eebeck coefficient compared with the single-atom-filled Sr_8Ga_(16)Ge_(30) sample in the temperature range of 300-800 K. The double-atom filling of Yb/Sr has significant influence on the lattice thermal conductivity of the Yb_xSr_(8-x)Ga_(16)Ge_(30) samples and the lattice thermal conductivity decreases gradually with increasing x. Of all the Yb_xSr_(8-x)Ga_(16)Ge_(30) samples, the maximum dimensionless figure of merit ZT of 0.81 is obtained at 800 K for the Yb_(1.0)Sr_(7.0)Ga_(16)Ge_(30) sample. Compared with that of single-atom-filled Sr_(8-x)Ga_(16)Ge_(30) sample, it is 35% higher at the same temperature.     

Tunable thermoelectric properties in bended graphene nanoribbons

The ballistic thermoelectric properties in bended graphene nanoribbons(GNRs) are systematically investigated by using atomistic simulation of electron and phonon transport. We find that the electron resonant tunneling effect occurs in the metallic–semiconducting linked ZZ-GNRs(the bended GNRs with zigzag edge leads). The electron-wave quantum interference effect occurs in the metallic–metallic linked AA-GNRs(the bended GNRs with armchair edge leads).These different physical mechanisms lead to the large Seebeck coefficient S and high electron conductance in bended ZZGNRs/AA-GNRs. Combined with the reduced lattice thermal conduction, the significant enhancement of the figure of merit ZT is predicted. Moreover, we find that the ZTmax(the maximum peak of ZT) is sensitive to the structural parameters. It can be conveniently tuned by changing the interbend length of bended GNRs. The magnitude of ZT ranges from the 0.15 to 0.72. Geometry-controlled ballistic thermoelectric effect offers an effective way to design thermoelectric devices such as thermocouples based on graphene.     

利用晶体结构工程提升GeSe化合物热电性能的研究

在热电研究领域, Ge Se是一种二维层状结构具有较大带隙的半导体,本征载流子浓度低,热电性能差.在本工作中,采用熔融淬火结合放电等离子活化烧结工艺制备了一系列的Ge Se_1–x Te_x (x=0, 0.05, 0.15, 0.25,0.35, 0.45)多晶样品,研究了Te含量对Ge Se化合物物相结构和热电输运性能的影响规律.结果表明:随着Te含量的增加, Ge Se的晶体结构逐渐由正交相向菱方相转变,使得材料的带隙降低,载流子浓度和迁移率同步增加;同时,晶体对称性的提高增加了化合物的能带简并度,有效提高了载流子有效质量.在这些因素的共同作用下,菱方相Ge Se的功率因子比正交相Ge Se提高约2—3个数量级.此外,菱方相Ge Se具有丰富的阳离子空位缺陷以及铁电特性所导致的声子软化现象,这导致其晶格热导率比正交相Ge Se降低近60%.当Te含量为0.45时,样品在573 K取得最大热电优值ZT为0.75,是本征Ge Se样品的19倍.晶体结构工程是提升Ge Se化合物热电性能的有效途径.     

基于第一性原理的Mn纳米线掺杂二维SnSe热电性能研究

本文提出了一种在二维SnSe中掺杂一维Mn纳米线的2D-1D复合结构,并系统地研究了其热电性能。结果表明,一维Mn纳米线将电子态汇聚在纳米线附近,提高了材料的各向异性,降低了电子在某一方向上的散射效应,导致了较高的迁移率和电导率。自旋向上和向下的电子态发生简并,导致了较高的塞贝克系数和电导率。此外,Mn纳米线将晶格热导率降低了约0.17 W·m^?1·K^?1。在200至650 K的温度范围内,3Mn-SnSe具有0.73至3.78的极高ZT值,比本征二维SnSe平均提高了约39.2%。