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Homogenizing composition to achieve high-performance Mg3Bi2-type thermoelectrics

delete2025-05-01
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PRE
AI
L
Longquan Wang
A
Airan Li
J
Jiankang Li
N
Naoyuki Kawamoto
N
Nguyễn Duy Hiếu
T
Takao Mori
DOI:10.1016/j.nanoen.2025.110797delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Introducing compositional fluctuation is an effective strategy for optimizing thermoelectric performance by scattering phonon transport. However, this approach can also impede carrier transport, resulting in an adverse effect, especially in Mg3Bi2-type compounds due to sensitive carrier boundary scattering. This study reveals that homogenizing the composition in Mg3(Bi, Sb)2 from macro- to nano-scale improves both electrical and thermal transport properties. Suppressed compositional fluctuation enhances weighted mobility, resulting in a remarkable average power factor of 28.2 mu W cm-1 K- 2 (300-523 K) among Bi-rich Mg3(Bi, Sb)2 compounds. Increased carrier concentration from restrained Mg loss mitigates the typical bipolar thermal conductivity effects at high temperatures. Consequently, a room-temperature zT of 0.78 and peak zT of 1.27 are achieved, with an exceptional average zT of 1.09 within the particularly useful 300-523 K temperature range. A two-pair module of Mg3(Bi, Sb)2/MgAgSb shows simultaneously high conversion efficiency of 8.3 % and power density of 0.37 W cm- 2 under 294 K temperature difference, validating their potential for low-grade waste heat harvesting. These intriguing results demonstrate an unconventional strategy for enhancing thermoelectric performance via compositional fluctuation control.
Keywords:
Thermoelectric
Compositional fluctuation
Weighted mobility
Bipolar transport
Mg3(Bi Sb)2

Journal

Nano Energy cover
Nano Energy
IF:
17.1
Papers:
1.2W
Citations:
13.0W

Organization

N
Natl Inst Mat Sci NIMS
Scholars:
161
Papers: 87
Citations: 47
U
univ tsukuba
Scholars:
808
Papers: 414
Citations: 93