Extraordinary role of Zn in enhancing thermoelectric performance of Ga-doped n-type PbTe

Luo, Zhong-Zhen; Cai, Songting; Hao, Shiqiang; Bailey, Trevor P.; Luo, Yubo; Luo, Wenjun; Yu, Yan; Uher, Ctirad; Wolverton, Christopher; Dravid, Vinayak P.; Zou, Zhigang; Yan, Qingyu; Kanatzidis, Mercouri G.

doi:10.1039/d1ee02986j

Title: Extraordinary role of Zn in enhancing thermoelectric performance of Ga-doped n-type PbTe

Journal Article · Mon Dec 06 00:00:00 EST 2021 · Energy & Environmental Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/d1ee02986j· OSTI ID:1867598

Luo, Zhong-Zhen ^[1];

^[2]; Hao, Shiqiang ^[2];

^[3]; Luo, Yubo ^[4];

^[5]; Yu, Yan ^[6]; Uher, Ctirad ^[3];

^[2];

^[2]; Zou, Zhigang ^[7];

^[8];

^[2]

Fuzhou Univ. (China); Fujian Science & Technology Innovation Laboratory for Optoelectronic Information of China, Fuzhou, Fujian (China); Nanyang Technological Univ. (Singapore); Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)
Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)
Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
Nanyang Technological Univ. (Singapore); Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States); Huazhong Univ. of Science and Technology, Wuhan (China)
Fuzhou Univ. (China); Nanjing Univ. (China)
Fuzhou Univ. (China); Fujian Science & Technology Innovation Laboratory for Optoelectronic Information of China, Fuzhou, Fujian (China)
Fuzhou Univ. (China); Fujian Science & Technology Innovation Laboratory for Optoelectronic Information of China, Fuzhou, Fujian (China); Nanjing Univ. (China)
Nanyang Technological Univ. (Singapore)

Although Ga doping can weaken the electron phonon coupling in n-type PbTe, Ga-doped PbTe has a relatively low carrier concentration (n) and high lattice thermal conductivity (κ_lat), resulting in a lower figure of merit (ZT) compared with those of other top-performing n-type PbTe-based thermoelectric materials. Herein, we report the extraordinary role of Zn in enhancing the thermoelectric performance of Ga-doped PbTe. It is discovered that Zn can simultaneously improve the electronic transport properties and decrease the κlat of Ga-doped PbTe, thereby affording a record high ZT_avg ~ 1.26 at 400–873 K, with a maximum ZT value of 1.55 at 723 K. The isoelectronic substitution of Zn for Pb in Ga-doped PbTe increases the electrical conductivity and n by inducing the nucleation and growth of Ga₂Te₃ in the second phase. The formation of Ga₂Te₃ results in nonstoichiometry and Te deficiency in the PbTe matrix, which increases the number of electron carriers. Additionally, discordant Zn and Ga atoms with displacing off-center from the ideal octahedral positions, as well as Ga₂Te₃ nanocrystals ranging from 30 to 200 nm coherently embedded into the PbTe matrix effectively weaken the phonon modes and scatter heat-carrying phonons, resulting in a significant reduction in κ_lat.

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Research Organization:: Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); Fujian Science & Technology Innovation Laboratory for Optoelectronic Information of China; National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC); National Science Foundation (NSF)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0014520; AC02-06CH11357; AC02-05CH11231; 2021ZZ127; 61728401; DMR-1720139; 2018-T2-1- 010; A19D9a0096

OSTI ID:: 1867598

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1835946

Journal Information:: Energy & Environmental Science, Vol. 15, Issue 1; ISSN 1754-5692

Publisher:: Royal Society of ChemistryCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
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Discordant Zn atoms
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Title: Extraordinary role of Zn in enhancing thermoelectric performance of Ga-doped n-type PbTe

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