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Approaching crystal’s limit of thermoelectrics by nano-sintering-aid at grain boundaries

Author

Listed:
  • Jingdan Lei

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Kunpeng Zhao

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Wuzhen Laboratory)

  • Jincheng Liao

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Shiqi Yang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Ziming Zhang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Tian-Ran Wei

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Wuzhen Laboratory)

  • Pengfei Qiu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Min Zhu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Lidong Chen

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xun Shi

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Grain boundary plays a vital role in thermoelectric transports, leading to distinct properties between single crystals and polycrystals. Manipulating the grain boundary to realize good thermoelectric properties in polycrystals similar as those of single crystals is a long-standing task, but it is quite challenging. Herein, we develop a liquid-phase sintering strategy to successfully introduce Mg2Cu nano-sintering-aid into the grain boundaries of Mg3(Bi, Sb)2-based materials. The nano-aid helps to enlarge the average grain size to 23.7 μm and effectively scatter phonons, leading to excellent electrical transports similar as those of single crystals and ultralow lattice thermal conductivity as well as exceptional thermoelectric figure of merit (1.5 at 500 K) and conversion efficiency (7.4% under temperature difference of 207 K). This work provides a simple but effective strategy for the fabrication of high-performance polycrystals for large-scale applications.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-50946-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50946-1
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    3. 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.
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