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Thermoelectric properties of copper selenide with ordered selenium layer and disordered copper layer

Journal Article · · Nano Energy
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [1]
  1. Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA (United States). Dept. of Physics
  2. Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
Thermoelectric figure-of-merit (ZT) of ~1.6 at 700 °C is achieved in β-phase copper selenide (Cu2Se) made by ball milling and hot pressing. The β-phase of such material possesses a natural superlattice-like structure that combines ordered selenium (Se) and disordered copper (Cu) layers in its unit cell, resulting in a low lattice thermal conductivity of 0.4–0.5 W m-1 K-1. A λ-shaped specific heat peak indicates a phase transition from cubic β-phase to tetragonal α-phase at around 140 °C upon cooling and vice versa. An abnormal decrease in specific heat with increasing temperature was also observed here due to the increased random motion of disordered Cu atoms. These features indicate that β-phase Cu2Se could be potentially an interesting thermoelectric material, competing with other conventional thermoelectric materials.
Research Organization:
Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0001299
OSTI ID:
1386802
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1066934
Journal Information:
Nano Energy, Journal Name: Nano Energy Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 1; ISSN 2211-2855
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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