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Maximizing the performance of n-type Mg3Bi2 based materials for room-temperature power generation and thermoelectric cooling

Author

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  • Zihang Liu

    (National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS))

  • Weihong Gao

    (National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS))

  • Hironori Oshima

    (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST))

  • Kazuo Nagase

    (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST))

  • Chul-Ho Lee

    (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST))

  • Takao Mori

    (National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)
    University of Tsukuba)

Abstract

Although the thermoelectric effect was discovered around 200 years ago, the main application in practice is thermoelectric cooling using the traditional Bi2Te3. The related studies of new and efficient room-temperature thermoelectric materials and modules have, however, not come to fruition yet. In this work, the electronic properties of n-type Mg3.2Bi1.5Sb0.5 material are maximized via delicate microstructural design with the aim of eliminating the thermal grain boundary resistance, eventually leading to a high zT above 1 over a broad temperature range from 323 K to 423 K. Importantly, we further demonstrated a great breakthrough in the non-Bi2Te3 thermoelectric module, coupled with the high-performance p-type α-MgAgSb, for room-temperature power generation and thermoelectric cooling. A high conversion efficiency of ~2.8% at the temperature difference of 95 K and a maximum temperature difference of 56.5 K are experimentally achieved. If the interfacial contact resistance is further reduced, our non-Bi2Te3 module may rival the long-standing champion commercial Bi2Te3 system. Overall, this work represents a substantial step towards the real thermoelectric application using non-Bi2Te3 materials and devices.

Suggested Citation

  • Zihang Liu & Weihong Gao & Hironori Oshima & Kazuo Nagase & Chul-Ho Lee & Takao Mori, 2022. "Maximizing the performance of n-type Mg3Bi2 based materials for room-temperature power generation and thermoelectric cooling," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-28798-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28798-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jingdan Lei & Kunpeng Zhao & Jincheng Liao & Shiqi Yang & Ziming Zhang & Tian-Ran Wei & Pengfei Qiu & Min Zhu & Lidong Chen & Xun Shi, 2024. "Approaching crystal’s limit of thermoelectrics by nano-sintering-aid at grain boundaries," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Nan Chen & Hangtian Zhu & Guodong Li & Zhen Fan & Xiaofan Zhang & Jiawei Yang & Tianbo Lu & Qiulin Liu & Xiaowei Wu & Yuan Yao & Youguo Shi & Huaizhou Zhao, 2023. "Improved figure of merit (z) at low temperatures for superior thermoelectric cooling in Mg3(Bi,Sb)2," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Min Liu & Xinyue Zhang & Shuxian Zhang & Yanzhong Pei, 2024. "Ag2Se as a tougher alternative to n-type Bi2Te3 thermoelectrics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-6, December.
    4. Airan Li & Yuechu Wang & Yuzheng Li & Xinlei Yang & Pengfei Nan & Kai Liu & Binghui Ge & Chenguang Fu & Tiejun Zhu, 2024. "High performance magnesium-based plastic semiconductors for flexible thermoelectrics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.

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