Bhardwaj, A. and Misra, D. K. (2014) Enhancing thermoelectric properties of a p-type Mg3Sb2- based Zintl phase compound by Pb substitution in the anionic framework. RSC Advances, 4 (65). pp. 34552-34560. ISSN 2046-2069

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Abstract

Mg3Sb2- based Zintl compounds have recently attracted attention as a potential candidate for thermoelectric applications due to their low thermal conductivity and promising thermoelectric performance (i.e. ZT = 0.6 at 773 K in Mg3Sb2-xBix). We have reported previously that isoelectronic Bi3- substitution of Sb3- leads to a moderate increase in the electrical conductivity, enhanced Seebeck coefficient and reduced thermal conductivity. Herein, we report a large enhancement of the electrical conductivity while maintaining the Seebeck coefficient by substituting Pb4- on Sb3- sites in Mg3Sb2-xPbx (0 <= x <= 0.3) alloys. Transport measurements reveal that optimum doping of 10 at% Pb4- on Sb3- enhances the ZT to 0.84 at 773 K which is comparable to bismuth telluride and selenide industrial materials which are toxic and expensive. The enhancement in ZT is attributed to a decrease in lattice thermal conductivity and simultaneously an increase in the power factor resulting from the significant increase in the electrical conductivity. We observe that Pb4- substitutions on Sb3- sites in Mg3Sb2-xPbx (0 <= x <= 0.3) increase the hole carrier concentration. Electronic transport data of Mg3Sb2-xPbx (0 <= x <= 0.3) alloys have been analyzed using a single parabolic band model and have been compared to Mg3Sb2. The relatively high figure of merit and affordable material ingredients coupled with one step synthesis process makes these materials a promising cost effective solution as thermoelectric materials.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: Chemistry
Divisions: UNSPECIFIED
Depositing User: Dr. Rajpal Walke
Date Deposited: 01 Oct 2015 06:28
Last Modified: 01 Oct 2015 06:28
URI: http://npl.csircentral.net/id/eprint/1288

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