Liquid-like copper chalcogenide modulates electron donors in high-performance n-type PbTe thermoelectrics
Journal
Cell Reports Physical Science
Journal Volume
4
Journal Issue
6
Start Page
101413
ISSN
26663864
Date Issued
2023
Author(s)
Abstract
Lead tellurides have been recognized as state-of-the-art thermoelectric generators (TEGs) for over 60 years. Recent efforts aim to lift the performance of n-type lead telluride (PbTe). Instead of doping elemental electron donors, we add the liquid-like Cu2S into a fully dense PbTe crystal, enabling a mixture of ionic and electronic conductors. The homogeneously distributed Cu2S nanoparticles act as active electron donors, dynamically pinning the solubility of Cu to an optimal value. Adding Cu2S also elicits hierarchical defects, constituting nanosized precipitates, nanoparticles, and intercalated Cu layers. Our n-type Cu2S-PbTe attains a high peak zT of 1.3 at 673 K with an average zTave of 0.98 within 300–673 K. Most importantly, it has a maximum conversion efficiency η of 4%, which, to the best of our knowledge, breaks the current record for an n-type PbTe-base single-leg device under a temperature difference ΔT of 300 K. © 2023 The Author(s)
Subjects
intercalated Cu layer
liquid-like Cu2S
n-type PbTe
nanoprecipitate
single-leg conversion efficiency
TEG
thermoelectric generator
SDGs
Publisher
Cell Press
Description
論文編號: 101413
Type
journal article