Enhanced thermoelectric performance of chalcogenide Cu2CdSnSe4by ex-situ homogeneous nanoinclusions

Qiufan Chen, Yanci Yan, Heng Zhan, Wei Yao, Yan Chen, Jiyan Dai, Xiaonan Sun, Xiaoyuan Zhou

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The Cu2CdSnSe4nanocrystallites with sizes ranging from 20 to 30 nm were prepared via colloidal synthesis, while the Cu2CdSnSe4matrix was made by the traditional solid state reaction method. It is found that nanocrystallite inclusions strongly enhance electrical conductivity while preserving the Seebeck coefficient. In addition, these inclusions significantly reduce the lattice thermal conductivity through scattering phonons with all-scale length due to the polymorphous structure feature of Cu2CdSnSe4composites. These concomitant effects result in an enhanced thermoelectric performance with the dimensionless figure of merit ZT reaching a peak value of 0.5 at 760 K, which is a 65% improvement compared to that of the pure Cu2CdSnSe4matrix. These observations demonstrate an exciting scientific opportunity to raise the figure of merit via ex-situ homogeneous nanoinclusions, not only for quaternary chalcogenides but also for other promising thermoelectric materials.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)179-186
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Materiomics
Volume2
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2016

Keywords

  • Homogeneous inclusions
  • Phonon scattering
  • Quaternary chalcogenide
  • Thermoelectric performance

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
  • Metals and Alloys

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