Rare-Earth Nd Inducing Record-High Thermoelectric Performance of (GeTe)85(AgSbTe2)15

Wan Yu Lyu; Min Hong; Wei Di Liu; Meng Li; Qiang Sun; Sheng Duo Xu; Jin Zou; Zhi-Gang Chen

doi:10.34133/2021/2414286

Energy Material Advances (Jan 2021)

Rare-Earth Nd Inducing Record-High Thermoelectric Performance of (GeTe)85(AgSbTe2)15

Wan Yu Lyu,
Min Hong,
Wei Di Liu,
Meng Li,
Qiang Sun,
Sheng Duo Xu,
Jin Zou,
Zhi-Gang Chen

Affiliations

Wan Yu Lyu: Centre for Future Materials, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield, Queensland 4300, Australia; School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
Min Hong: Centre for Future Materials, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield, Queensland 4300, Australia; School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
Wei Di Liu: Centre for Future Materials, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield, Queensland 4300, Australia; School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
Meng Li: School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
Qiang Sun: School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
Sheng Duo Xu: School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
Jin Zou: School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia; Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
Zhi-Gang Chen: Centre for Future Materials, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield, Queensland 4300, Australia; School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.34133/2021/2414286
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 2021

Abstract

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As a promising midtemperature thermoelectric material with both higher thermoelectric performance and mechanical property, Tellurium Antimony Germanium Silver (TAGS-x), written as (GeTe)x(AgSbTe2)1-x, especially (GeTe)0.85(AgSbTe2)0.15 (TAGS-85), has attracted wide attention. Herein, we innovatively use Nd doping to synergistically decrease the carrier concentration to the optimal level leading to enhanced dimensionless figure of merit, zT. Our density-functional theory calculation results indicate that Nd-doping reduced carrier concentration should be attributed to the enlargement of band gap. The optimized carrier concentration results in an ultrahigh power factor of ~32 μW cm-1 K-2 at 727 K in Ge0.74Ag0.13Sb0.11Nd0.02Te. Simultaneously, the lattice thermal conductivity of Ge0.74Ag0.13Sb0.11Nd0.02Te retained as low as ~0.5 at 727 K. Ultimately, a record-high zT of 1.65 at 727 K is observed in the Ge0.74Ag0.13Sb0.11Nd0.02Te. This study indicates rare-earth Nd doping is effective in boosting the thermoelectric performance of TAGS-85 and approached a record-high level via synergistic effect.

Published in Energy Material Advances

ISSN: 2692-7640 (Online)
Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials; Technology: Mechanical engineering and machinery: Renewable energy sources
Website: https://spj.sciencemag.org/journals/energymatadv/

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