Enhanced thermoelectric performance and mechanical strength in GeTe enable power generation and cooling
Jianglong Zhu,
Fujie Zhang,
Yilin Tai,
Xiaobo Tan,
Qian Deng,
Pengfei Nan,
Ruihuan Cheng,
Chengliang Xia,
Yue Chen,
Binghui Ge,
Ran Ang
Affiliations
Jianglong Zhu
Key Laboratory of Radiation Physics and Technology, Ministry of Education Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Sichuan University Chengdu the People's Republic of China
Fujie Zhang
Key Laboratory of Radiation Physics and Technology, Ministry of Education Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Sichuan University Chengdu the People's Republic of China
Yilin Tai
Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology Anhui University Hefei the People's Republic of China
Xiaobo Tan
Key Laboratory of Radiation Physics and Technology, Ministry of Education Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Sichuan University Chengdu the People's Republic of China
Qian Deng
Key Laboratory of Radiation Physics and Technology, Ministry of Education Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Sichuan University Chengdu the People's Republic of China
Pengfei Nan
Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology Anhui University Hefei the People's Republic of China
Ruihuan Cheng
Department of Mechanical Engineering The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR the People's Republic of China
Chengliang Xia
Department of Mechanical Engineering The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR the People's Republic of China
Yue Chen
Department of Mechanical Engineering The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR the People's Republic of China
Binghui Ge
Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology Anhui University Hefei the People's Republic of China
Ran Ang
Key Laboratory of Radiation Physics and Technology, Ministry of Education Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Sichuan University Chengdu the People's Republic of China
Abstract Finding a real thermoelectric (TE) material that excels in various aspects of TE performance, mechanical properties, TE power generation, and cooling is challenging for its commercialization. Herein, we report a novel multifunctional Ge0.78Cd0.06Pb0.1Sb0.06Te material with excellent TE performance and mechanical strength, which is utilized to construct candidate TE power generation and cooling devices near room temperature. Specifically, the effectiveness of band convergence, combined with optimized carrier concentration and electronic quality factor, distinctly boosts the Seebeck coefficient, thus greatly improving the power factor. Advanced electron microscopy observation indicates that complex multi‐scale hierarchical structures and strain field distributions lead to ultra‐low lattice thermal conductivity, and also effectively enhance mechanical properties. High ZT ~ 0.6 at 303 K, average ZTave ~ 1.18 from 303 to 553 K, and Vickers hardness of ~200 Hv in Ge0.78Cd0.06Pb0.1Sb0.06Te are obtained synchronously. Particularly, a 7‐pair TE cooling device with a maximum ΔT of ~45.9 K at Th = 328 K, and a conversion efficiency of ~5.2% at Th = 553 K is achieved in a single‐leg device. The present findings demonstrate a unique approach to developing superior multifunctional GeTe‐based alloys, opening up a promising avenue for commercial applications.
