CuFeS2/Cu2S/FeS2 Composite to Increase the Performance of Thin-Film Thermoelectric Generators Based on Sustainable Materials

Thermoelectric devices convert waste heat into electric energy but typically rely on scarce, expensive, and toxic Te-based materials. To address these limitations, we propose the Cu-Fe-S sulfide system as a nontoxic, abundant, and environmentally friendly alternative, with enhanced properties achiev...

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Autores: Malagutti, Marcelo Augusto, Lohani, Ketan, Caño Prades, Ivan, Navarro-Güell, Alejandro, Bernard, Tanguy, Chiappini, Andrea, Saucedo, Edgardo, Ataollahi, Narges, Scardi, Paolo
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/384599
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/384599
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85207868763
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Ball milling
Environmentally friendly
Nanocomposite
Sulfurization
Thermal evaporation
Thermoelectric generators
Thermoelectricity
Thin film
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spelling CuFeS2/Cu2S/FeS2 Composite to Increase the Performance of Thin-Film Thermoelectric Generators Based on Sustainable MaterialsMalagutti, Marcelo AugustoLohani, KetanCaño Prades, IvanNavarro-Güell, AlejandroBernard, TanguyChiappini, AndreaSaucedo, EdgardoAtaollahi, NargesScardi, PaoloBall millingEnvironmentally friendlyNanocompositeSulfurizationThermal evaporationThermoelectric generatorsThermoelectricityThin filmThermoelectric devices convert waste heat into electric energy but typically rely on scarce, expensive, and toxic Te-based materials. To address these limitations, we propose the Cu-Fe-S sulfide system as a nontoxic, abundant, and environmentally friendly alternative, with enhanced properties achieved through the synergistic behavior of CuFeS2, Cu2S, and FeS2 phases in a thin-film thermoelectric generator. These phases were synthesized using a three-step process: ball milling, thermal evaporation, and sulfurization of Cu/Fe precursors, with the CuFeS2/Cu2S/FeS2 phase ratio being tuned by adjusting the sulfurization temperature and duration. The presence of binary sulfides enhances the electric connectivity between CuFeS2 grains, which on their own exhibit poor electrical conductivity due to the formation of isolated grains during nucleation. The composite achieved a volumetric power density of 20 μW cm-3 K-1, outperforming similar Cu-based materials such as Cu2SnS3 and Cu2ZnSnS/Se4, mainly due to its optimized phase composition, higher density, and the superior Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity achieved through nanoinclusion. The eco-friendly, low-cost Cu-Fe-S system, synthesized through scalable ball milling and thermal evaporation, presents a promising alternative to conventional materials for sustainable thermoelectric generation.This study was funded by the Italian Ministry of Universitiesand Research (MUR), in the framework of the projectDICAM-EXC (Departments of Excellence 2023−2027, grantL232/2016). The authors acknowledge the Science Ministry ofSpain project numbers PID2020-116719RB-C41 (MATER-ONE) and TED2021-130265B-C21 (MIRACLE). E.S. isgrateful to the ICREA Academia program.Peer reviewedAmerican Chemical SocietyMinistero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della RicercaAgencia Estatal de Investigación (España)Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España)Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España)ICREA AcadèmiaLohani, Ketan [0000-0003-1059-6744]Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]202520252025info:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501Postprintinfo:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersionhttps://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/application/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/10261/384599https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85207868763reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSICinstname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)Inglés#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE##PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/AEI/Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2017-2020/PID2020-116719RB-C41info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/AEI//TED2021-130265B-C21https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaelm.4c01248Síinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:digital.csic.es:10261/3845992026-05-22T06:33:51Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv CuFeS2/Cu2S/FeS2 Composite to Increase the Performance of Thin-Film Thermoelectric Generators Based on Sustainable Materials
title CuFeS2/Cu2S/FeS2 Composite to Increase the Performance of Thin-Film Thermoelectric Generators Based on Sustainable Materials
spellingShingle CuFeS2/Cu2S/FeS2 Composite to Increase the Performance of Thin-Film Thermoelectric Generators Based on Sustainable Materials
Malagutti, Marcelo Augusto
Ball milling
Environmentally friendly
Nanocomposite
Sulfurization
Thermal evaporation
Thermoelectric generators
Thermoelectricity
Thin film
title_short CuFeS2/Cu2S/FeS2 Composite to Increase the Performance of Thin-Film Thermoelectric Generators Based on Sustainable Materials
title_full CuFeS2/Cu2S/FeS2 Composite to Increase the Performance of Thin-Film Thermoelectric Generators Based on Sustainable Materials
title_fullStr CuFeS2/Cu2S/FeS2 Composite to Increase the Performance of Thin-Film Thermoelectric Generators Based on Sustainable Materials
title_full_unstemmed CuFeS2/Cu2S/FeS2 Composite to Increase the Performance of Thin-Film Thermoelectric Generators Based on Sustainable Materials
title_sort CuFeS2/Cu2S/FeS2 Composite to Increase the Performance of Thin-Film Thermoelectric Generators Based on Sustainable Materials
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Malagutti, Marcelo Augusto
Lohani, Ketan
Caño Prades, Ivan
Navarro-Güell, Alejandro
Bernard, Tanguy
Chiappini, Andrea
Saucedo, Edgardo
Ataollahi, Narges
Scardi, Paolo
author Malagutti, Marcelo Augusto
author_facet Malagutti, Marcelo Augusto
Lohani, Ketan
Caño Prades, Ivan
Navarro-Güell, Alejandro
Bernard, Tanguy
Chiappini, Andrea
Saucedo, Edgardo
Ataollahi, Narges
Scardi, Paolo
author_role author
author2 Lohani, Ketan
Caño Prades, Ivan
Navarro-Güell, Alejandro
Bernard, Tanguy
Chiappini, Andrea
Saucedo, Edgardo
Ataollahi, Narges
Scardi, Paolo
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca
Agencia Estatal de Investigación (España)
Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España)
Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España)
ICREA Acadèmia
Lohani, Ketan [0000-0003-1059-6744]
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Ball milling
Environmentally friendly
Nanocomposite
Sulfurization
Thermal evaporation
Thermoelectric generators
Thermoelectricity
Thin film
topic Ball milling
Environmentally friendly
Nanocomposite
Sulfurization
Thermal evaporation
Thermoelectric generators
Thermoelectricity
Thin film
description Thermoelectric devices convert waste heat into electric energy but typically rely on scarce, expensive, and toxic Te-based materials. To address these limitations, we propose the Cu-Fe-S sulfide system as a nontoxic, abundant, and environmentally friendly alternative, with enhanced properties achieved through the synergistic behavior of CuFeS2, Cu2S, and FeS2 phases in a thin-film thermoelectric generator. These phases were synthesized using a three-step process: ball milling, thermal evaporation, and sulfurization of Cu/Fe precursors, with the CuFeS2/Cu2S/FeS2 phase ratio being tuned by adjusting the sulfurization temperature and duration. The presence of binary sulfides enhances the electric connectivity between CuFeS2 grains, which on their own exhibit poor electrical conductivity due to the formation of isolated grains during nucleation. The composite achieved a volumetric power density of 20 μW cm-3 K-1, outperforming similar Cu-based materials such as Cu2SnS3 and Cu2ZnSnS/Se4, mainly due to its optimized phase composition, higher density, and the superior Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity achieved through nanoinclusion. The eco-friendly, low-cost Cu-Fe-S system, synthesized through scalable ball milling and thermal evaporation, presents a promising alternative to conventional materials for sustainable thermoelectric generation.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
2025
2025
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
Postprint
info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion
format article
status_str acceptedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/10261/384599
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85207868763
url http://hdl.handle.net/10261/384599
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85207868763
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv #PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/AEI/Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2017-2020/PID2020-116719RB-C41
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/AEI//TED2021-130265B-C21
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaelm.4c01248
Sí
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv https://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv American Chemical Society
publisher.none.fl_str_mv American Chemical Society
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
instname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
instname_str Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
reponame_str DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
collection DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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