A route to high thermoelectric performance: solution-based control of microstructure and composition in Ag2Se
Thermoelectric materials convert heat into electricity, with a broad range of applications near room temperature (RT). However, the library of RT high-performance materials is limited. Traditional high-temperature synthetic methods constrain the range of materials achievable, hindering the ability t...
| Autores: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2024 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) |
| Repositorio: | UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/417189 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/2117/417189 https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202400408 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Thermoelectric materials Materials termoelèctrics Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria química |
| Sumario: | Thermoelectric materials convert heat into electricity, with a broad range of applications near room temperature (RT). However, the library of RT high-performance materials is limited. Traditional high-temperature synthetic methods constrain the range of materials achievable, hindering the ability to surpass crystal structure limitations and engineer defects. Here, a solution-based synthetic approach is introduced, enabling RT synthesis of powders and exploration of densification at lower temperatures to influence the material's microstructure. The approach is exemplified by Ag2Se, an n-type alternative to bismuth telluride. It is demonstrated that the concentration of Ag interstitials, grain boundaries, and dislocations are directly correlated to the sintering temperature, and achieve a figure of merit of 1.1 from RT to 100 °C after optimization. Moreover, insights into and resolve Ag2Se's challenges are provided, including stoichiometry issues leading to irreproducible performances. This work highlights the potential of RT solution synthesis in expanding the repertoire of high-performance thermoelectric materials for practical applications. |
|---|