Enhanced Thermoelectric Properties of Cu3SbSe3-Based Composites with Inclusion Phases

Abstract

Cu 3 SbSe 3 -based composites have been prepared by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) combined with spark plasma sintering (SPS) technology. Phase composition and microstructure analysis indicate that the obtained samples are mainly composed of Cu 3 SbSe 3 phase and CuSbSe 2 /Cu 2-x Se secondary phases. Our results show that the existence of Cu 2-x Se phase can clearly enhance the electrical conductivity of the composites (~16 S/cm), which is 2.5 times higher than the pure phase. The thermal conductivity can remain at about 0.30 W·m −1 ·K −1 at 653 K. A maximum ZT (defined as ZT = S 2 σT/κ, where S, σ, T, κ are the Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, absolute temperature and total thermal conductivity) of the sample SPS 633 can be 0.42 at 653 K, which is 60% higher than the previously reported values. Our results indicate that the composite structure is an effective method to enhance the performance of Cu 3 SbSe 3 .

Copper—antimony and copper—bismuth chalcogenides—Research opportunities and review for solar photovoltaics

“…Synthesis from the elements in sealed tubes is the most widely reported method and has been demonstrated for Cu 3 SbS 3 , 83 'tetrahedrite' Cu 12 Sb 4 S 13 and its mixed Sb-Bi analogue, 85 CuSbSe 2 , 86,87 Cu 3 SbSe 3 , 87,89,90 and CuBiSe 2 . 96,97 Spark sintering of the elements has been used for Cu 3 SbSe 3 84 and Cu 3 SbSe 3 91 ; and. 91,92 The elements may also be combined by ball milling at room temperature to produce powder.…”

Copper Chalcogenide–Copper Tetrahedrite Composites—A New Concept for Stable Thermoelectric Materials Based on the Chalcogenide System

“…They are characterized by the presence of Sb ions in structural cages, which leads to the part-crystalline, part-liquid state of the Cu ions [ 22 ], resulting in ultra-low lattice thermal conductivity λ L [ 5 ]. In the form of solid solution or doped phases, these ternary Cu-Sb-Ch materials are characterized by good stability due to Sb–Ch bonds being significantly stronger compared to Cu–Ch ones, and can reach ZT parameter levels from 0.6 up to 1.2 for tetrahedrites [ 5 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ], and about 0.4–0.9 for Cu 3 SbCh 4-x compounds [ 5 , 27 , 28 , 29 ]. Due to the high-temperature degradation of these phases, their applications are limited to temperatures up to 700.…”

PHASE EQUILIBRIA IN THE Cu2Se-SnSe-Sb2Se3 SYSTEM ALONG THE SnSe-Cu3SbSe3 SECTION

“…The Cu 3 SbSe 3 compound melts incongruently at 808 К [2] and crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group Pnma, with a = 7.9865 (8), b = 10.6138(9) and c = 6.8372(7) Å; Z = 4 [14]. Recent studies have shown that this compound due to its environmentallyfriendly constituent elements, ultralow thermal conductivity, and moderate thermopower, could be a potentially useful thermoelectric material [15][16][17], as well as the compound SnSe exhibit exceptionally good thermoelectric properties at high temperatures above ~800 K, including a very low thermal conductivity [18,19].…”