Mg3(Bi,Sb)2single crystals towards high thermoelectric performance

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Yu Pan - , Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids (Author)
  • Mengyu Yao - , Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids (Author)
  • Xiaochen Hong - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Yifan Zhu - , Shanghai University (Author)
  • Yifan Zhu - , CAS - Shanghai Institute of Ceramics (Author)
  • Fengren Fan - , Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids (Author)
  • Kazuki Imasato - , Northwestern University (Author)
  • Yangkun He - , Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids (Author)
  • Christian Hess - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Jörg Fink - , Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids (Author)
  • Jörg Fink - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Jörg Fink - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Jiong Yang - , Shanghai University (Author)
  • Bernd Büchner - , Chair of Experimental Solid State Physics, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Chenguang Fu - , Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids (Author)
  • G. Jeffrey Snyder - , Northwestern University (Author)
  • Claudia Felser - , Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids (Author)

Abstract

The rapid growth of the thermoelectric cooler market makes the development of novel room temperature thermoelectric materials of great importance. Ternary n-type Mg3(Bi,Sb)2 alloys are promising alternatives to the state-of-the-art Bi2(Te,Se)3 alloys but grain boundary resistance is the most important limitation. n-type Mg3(Bi,Sb)2 single crystals with negligible grain boundaries are expected to have particularly high zT but have rarely been realized due to the demanding Mg-rich growth conditions required. Here, we report, for the first time, the thermoelectric properties of n-type Mg3(Bi,Sb)2 alloyed single crystals grown by a one-step Mg-flux method using sealed tantalum tubes. High weighted mobility ∼140 cm2 V-1 s-1 and a high zT of 0.82 at 315 K are achieved in Y-doped Mg3Bi1.25Sb0.75 single crystals. Through both experimental angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and theoretical calculations, we denote the origin of the high thermoelectric performance from a point of view of band widening effect and electronegativity, as well as the necessity to form high Bi/Sb ratio ternary Mg3(Bi,Sb)2 alloys. The present work paves the way for further development of Mg3(Bi,Sb)2 for near room temperature thermoelectric applications.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1717-1724
Number of pages8
JournalEnergy and Environmental Science
Volume13
Issue number6
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2020
Peer-reviewedYes