Realizing high performance n-type PbTe by synergistically optimizing effective mass and carrier mobility and suppressing bipolar thermal conductivity

文献情報

出版日 2018-06-15

DOI 10.1039/C8EE01151F

インパクトファクター 38.532

著者

Yu Xiao, Haijun Wu, Dongyang Wang, Liangwei Fu, Yang Zhang, Yue Chen, Jiaqing He, Stephen J. Pennycook, Li-Dong Zhao

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要旨

Thermoelectric materials enable direct inter-conversion between electrical energy and thermal energy. The conversion efficiency is limited by their complex interdependent thermoelectric parameters. Here, we report that the electrical and thermal transport properties of n-type PbTe can be simultaneously improved by introducing just one component, MnTe. We obtained a maximum ZT of ∼1.6 at 773 K and an average ZTave of >1.0 at 300–873 K in n-type MnTe alloyed PbTe. This remarkably enhanced performance arises from the triple functions of MnTe alloying: (1) making the conduction band flatter to increase the effective mass from 0.31 me to 0.45 me; (2) enlarging the band gap of PbTe to suppress the bipolar thermal conductivity; and (3) introducing point defects instead of nanoprecipitates to reduce the lattice thermal conductivity while maintaining a relatively high carrier mobility. Our results indicate that high performance can be achieved in n-type PbTe by integrating different but synergistic concepts.

掲載誌

Energy & Environmental Science

CiteScore: 32.34

自己引用率: 3.4%

年間論文数: 481

Energy & Environmental Science is an international journal dedicated to publishing exceptionally important and high quality, agenda-setting research tackling the key global and societal challenges of ensuring the provision of energy and protecting our environment for the future. The scope is intentionally broad and the journal recognises the complexity of issues and challenges relating to energy conversion and storage, alternative fuel technologies and environmental science. For work to be published it must be linked to the energy-environment nexus and be of significant general interest to our community-spanning readership. All scales of studies and analysis, from impactful fundamental advances, to interdisciplinary research across the (bio)chemical, (bio/geo)physical sciences and chemical engineering disciplines are welcomed. Topics include, but are not limited to, the following: Solar energy conversion and photovoltaics Solar fuels and artificial photosynthesis Fuel cells Hydrogen storage and (bio) hydrogen production Materials for energy systems Capture, storage and fate of CO2, including chemicals and fuels from CO2 Catalysis for a variety of feedstocks (for example, oil, gas, coal, biomass and synthesis gas) Biofuels and biorefineries Materials in extreme environments Environmental impacts of energy technologies Global atmospheric chemistry and climate change as related to energy systems Water-energy nexus Energy systems and networks Globally applicable principles of energy policy and techno-economics