Self-propagating high-temperature synthesis for compound thermoelectrics and new criterion for combustion processing

Xianli Su, Fan Fu, Yonggao Yan, Gang Zheng, Tao Liang, Qiang Zhang, Xin Cheng, Dongwang Yang, Hang Chi, Xinfeng Tang (), Qingjie Zhang and Ctirad Uher ()
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Xianli Su: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology
Fan Fu: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology
Yonggao Yan: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology
Gang Zheng: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology
Tao Liang: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology
Qiang Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology
Xin Cheng: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology
Dongwang Yang: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology
Hang Chi: University of Michigan
Xinfeng Tang: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology
Qingjie Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology
Ctirad Uher: University of Michigan

Nature Communications, 2014, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract The existing methods of synthesis of thermoelectric (TE) materials remain constrained to multi-step processes that are time and energy intensive. Here we demonstrate that essentially all compound thermoelectrics can be synthesized in a single-phase form at a minimal cost and on the timescale of seconds using a combustion process called self-propagating high-temperature synthesis. We illustrate this method on Cu2Se and summarize key reaction parameters for other materials. We propose a new empirically based criterion for sustainability of the combustion reaction, where the adiabatic temperature that represents the maximum temperature to which the reacting compact is raised as the combustion wave passes through, must be high enough to melt the lower melting point component. Our work opens a new avenue for ultra-fast, low-cost, large-scale production of TE materials, and provides new insights into combustion process, which greatly broaden the scope of materials that can be successfully synthesized by this technique.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5908

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