Synergetic Approach for Superior Thermoelectric Performance in PbTe-PbSe-PbS Quaternary Alloys and Composites

Dianta Ginting, Chan-Chieh Lin and Jong-Soo Rhyee
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Dianta Ginting: Department of Applied Physics and Institute of Natural Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yong-In, Gyong-gi 17104, Korea
Chan-Chieh Lin: Department of Applied Physics and Institute of Natural Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yong-In, Gyong-gi 17104, Korea
Jong-Soo Rhyee: Department of Applied Physics and Institute of Natural Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yong-In, Gyong-gi 17104, Korea

Energies, 2019, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-29

Abstract: Thermoelectric power generation is an energy conversion technology from heat to electric energy, which can be applied to waste heat power conversion. Among thermoelectric materials (TE), PbTe-PbSe-PbS quaternary alloys and composites are promising candidates for thermoelectric power generation applications in the mid-temperature operating range from 500 to ~850 K. Besides, the thermoelectric performance of quaternary alloys and composites is not fully optimized regarding its composition and synthesis process. In the quaternary system, PbTe-PbSe-PbS, it was found that PbS will form nanoprecipitation in the matrix of quaternary alloy for a small content of PbS (≤0.07), which reduces the lattice thermal conductivity. The power factor of PbTe-PbSe-PbS quaternary alloys can be significantly enhanced by using a band convergence in PbTe 1−x Se x . The band structure modifications, with the result of simultaneous PbS nanoprecipitation, give rise to a high Z T value of 2.3 at 800 K for (PbTe) 0.95−x (PbSe) x (PbS) 0.05 . The chemical potential tuning by effective K-doping ( x = 0.02) and PbS substitution reveals a high power factor and low thermal conductivity, resulting in a comparatively high Z T value of 1.72 at 800 K. The combination of a high Seebeck coefficient and low thermal conductivity results in a very high Z T value of 1.52 at 700 K as n-type materials for low Cl-doped ( x = 0.0005) (PbTe 0.93−x Se 0.07 Cl x ) 0.93 (PbS) 0.07 composites. Therefore, this review presents the simultaneous emergence of effective chemical potential tuning, band convergence, and nanoprecipitation, giving rise to a significant enhancement of the thermoelectric performance of both p - and n -type PbTe-PbSe-PbS quaternary alloy and composite TE materials.

Keywords: PbTe-PbSe-PbS; quaternary alloys; composites; thermoelectric; ZT (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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