Neutron-irradiated effect on the thermoelectric properties of Bi2Te3-based thermoelectric leg

Huanyu Zhao; Kai Liu; Zhiheng Xu; Yunpeng Liu; Xiaobin Tang

Nuclear Engineering and Technology (Aug 2023)

Neutron-irradiated effect on the thermoelectric properties of Bi2Te3-based thermoelectric leg

Huanyu Zhao,
Kai Liu,
Zhiheng Xu,
Yunpeng Liu,
Xiaobin Tang

Affiliations

Huanyu Zhao: Department of Nuclear Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 211106, China
Kai Liu: State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
Zhiheng Xu: Department of Nuclear Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 211106, China; Key Laboratory of Nuclear Technology Application and Radiation Protection in Astronautics, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Nanjing, 211106, China; Corresponding author. Department of Nuclear Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 211106, China.
Yunpeng Liu: Department of Nuclear Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 211106, China; Key Laboratory of Nuclear Technology Application and Radiation Protection in Astronautics, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Nanjing, 211106, China
Xiaobin Tang: Department of Nuclear Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 211106, China; Key Laboratory of Nuclear Technology Application and Radiation Protection in Astronautics, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Nanjing, 211106, China; Corresponding author. Department of Nuclear Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 211106, China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 55, no. 8
pp. 3080 – 3087

Abstract

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Thermoelectric (TE) materials working in radioisotope thermoelectric generators are irradiated by neutrons throughout its service; thus, investigating the neutron irradiation stability of TE devices is necessary. Herein, the influence of neutron irradiation with fluences of 4.56 × 1010 and 1 × 1013 n/cm2 by pulsed neutron reactor on the electrical and thermal transport properties of n-type Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 and p-type Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 thermoelectric alloys prepared by cold-pressing and molding is investigated. After neutron irradiation, the properties of thermoelectric materials fluctuate, which is related to the material type and irradiation fluence. Different from p-type thermoelectric materials, neutron irradiation has a positive effect on n-type Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 materials. This result might be due to the increase of carrier mobility and the optimization of electrical conductivity. Afterward, the effects of p-type and n-type TE devices with different treatments on the output performance of TE devices are further discussed. The positive and negative effects caused by irradiation can cancel each other to a certain extent. For TE devices paired with p-type Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 and n-type Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 thermoelectric legs, the generated power and conversion efficiency are stable after neutron irradiation.

Published in Nuclear Engineering and Technology

ISSN: 1738-5733 (Print)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Korea, Republic of
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Nuclear engineering. Atomic power
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/nuclear-engineering-and-technology

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