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Realizing high figure of merit in heavy-band p-type half-Heusler thermoelectric materials

Author

Listed:
  • Chenguang Fu

    (State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University)

  • Shengqiang Bai

    (State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yintu Liu

    (State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University)

  • Yunshan Tang

    (State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Lidong Chen

    (State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xinbing Zhao

    (State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University
    Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials and Applications for Batteries of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University)

  • Tiejun Zhu

    (State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University
    Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials and Applications for Batteries of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University)

Abstract

Solid-state thermoelectric technology offers a promising solution for converting waste heat to useful electrical power. Both high operating temperature and high figure of merit zT are desirable for high-efficiency thermoelectric power generation. Here we report a high zT of ∼1.5 at 1,200 K for the p-type FeNbSb heavy-band half-Heusler alloys. High content of heavier Hf dopant simultaneously optimizes the electrical power factor and suppresses thermal conductivity. Both the enhanced point-defect and electron–phonon scatterings contribute to a significant reduction in the lattice thermal conductivity. An eight couple prototype thermoelectric module exhibits a high conversion efficiency of 6.2% and a high power density of 2.2 W cm−2 at a temperature difference of 655 K. These findings highlight the optimization strategy for heavy-band thermoelectric materials and demonstrate a realistic prospect of high-temperature thermoelectric modules based on half-Heusler alloys with low cost, excellent mechanical robustness and stability.

Suggested Citation

  • Chenguang Fu & Shengqiang Bai & Yintu Liu & Yunshan Tang & Lidong Chen & Xinbing Zhao & Tiejun Zhu, 2015. "Realizing high figure of merit in heavy-band p-type half-Heusler thermoelectric materials," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-7, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms9144
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9144
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    Cited by:

    1. Wang, Z.H. & Ma, Y.J. & Tang, G.H. & Zhang, Hu & Ji, F. & Sheng, Q., 2023. "Integration of thermal insulation and thermoelectric conversion embedded with phase change materials," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    2. Huang, Shaolin & Yang, Hao & Li, Yanan & Guo, Zhe & Zhang, Qiang & Cai, Jianfeng & Wu, Jiehua & Tan, Xiaojian & Liu, Guoqiang & Song, Kun & Jiang, Jun, 2023. "Optimizing GeTe-based thermoelectric generator for low-grade heat recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 349(C).
    3. Sharma, Vaishali & Kagdada, Hardik L. & Jha, Prafulla K. & Śpiewak, Piotr & Kurzydłowski, Krzysztof J., 2020. "Thermal transport properties of boron nitride based materials: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    4. Kaja Bilińska & Dominika Goles & Maciej J. Winiarski, 2023. "A theoretical investigation of 18-electron half-Heusler tellurides in terms of potential thermoelectric value," The European Physical Journal B: Condensed Matter and Complex Systems, Springer;EDP Sciences, vol. 96(10), pages 1-8, October.
    5. Yoo, Chung-Yul & Yeon, Changho & Jin, Younghwan & Kim, Yeongseon & Song, Jinseop & Yoon, Hana & Park, Sang Hyun & Beltrán-Pitarch, Braulio & García-Cañadas, Jorge & Min, Gao, 2019. "Determination of the thermoelectric properties of a skutterudite-based device at practical operating temperatures by impedance spectroscopy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C), pages 1-1.
    6. Sadeq Hooshmand Zaferani & Alireza Darebaghi & Soon-Jik Hong & Daryoosh Vashaee & Reza Ghomashchi, 2020. "Experimental Realization of Heavily p-doped Half-Heusler CoVSn Compound," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-11, March.
    7. Wu, Yongjia & Yang, Jihui & Chen, Shikui & Zuo, Lei, 2018. "Thermo-element geometry optimization for high thermoelectric efficiency," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 672-680.
    8. Cheng, Fuqiang & Hong, Yanji & Li, Weiping & Guo, Xiaohong & Zhang, Hailong & Fu, Feng & Feng, Bingqing & Wang, Gang & Wang, Chao & Qin, Haibing, 2017. "A thermoelectric generator for scavenging gas-heat: From module optimization to prototype test," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 545-560.
    9. Wang, Yancheng & Shi, Yaoguang & Mei, Deqing & Chen, Zichen, 2017. "Wearable thermoelectric generator for harvesting heat on the curved human wrist," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 710-719.
    10. Zhao, Xiaohuan & Jiang, Jiang & Zuo, Hongyan & Mao, Zhengsong, 2023. "Performance analysis of diesel particulate filter thermoelectric conversion mobile energy storage system under engine conditions of low-speed and light-load," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).

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