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Title: High Thermoelectric Performance through Crystal Symmetry Enhancement in Triply Doped Diamondoid Compound Cu2SnSe3

Journal Article · · Advanced Energy Materials
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [2]; ORCiD logo [2];  [3]; ORCiD logo [4];  [3];  [3]; ORCiD logo [5];  [6]; ORCiD logo [7]; ORCiD logo [3]; ORCiD logo [8]; ORCiD logo [3]; ORCiD logo [7]; ORCiD logo [9]; ORCiD logo [9]; ORCiD logo [8]; ORCiD logo [3]; ORCiD logo [4]
  1. Nanyang Technological Univ. (Singapore); Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)
  2. Tokyo Inst. of Technology, Yokohama (Japan)
  3. Nanyang Technological Univ. (Singapore)
  4. Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)
  5. Univ. of Padova (Italy)
  6. Univ. of Verona (Italy)
  7. Nanyang Technological Univ. (Singapore); A*STAR Agency for Science Technology and Research (Singapore)
  8. A*STAR Agency for Science Technology and Research (Singapore)
  9. Southern Univ. of Science and Technology, Shenzhen (China)

Abstract The presence of high crystallographic symmetry and nanoscale defects are favorable for thermoelectrics. With proper electronic structures, a highly symmetric crystal tends to possess multiple carrier channels and promote electrical conductivity without sacrificing Seebeck coefficient. In addition, nanoscale defects can effectively scatter acoustic phonons to suppress thermal conductivity. Here, it is reported that the triple doping of Cu 2 SnSe 3 leads to a high ZT value of 1.6 at 823 K for Cu 1.85 Ag 0.15 (Sn 0.88 Ga 0.1 Na 0.02 )Se 3 , and a decent average ZT ( ZT ave ) value of 0.7 is also achieved for Cu 1.85 Ag 0.15 (Sn 0.93 Mg 0.06 Na 0.01 )Se 3 from 475 to 823 K. This study reveals: 1) Ag doping on Cu sites generates numerous point defects and greatly decreases lattice thermal conductivity. 2) Doping Mg or Ga converts the monoclinic Cu 2 SnSe 3 into a cubic structure. This symmetry enhancing leads to an increase in the effective mass from 0.8 m e to 2.6 m e ( m e , free electron mass) and the power factor from 4.3 µW cm −1 K −2 for Cu 2 SnSe 3 to 11.6 µW cm −1 K −2 . 3) Na doping creates dense dislocation arrays and nanoprecipitates, which strengthens the phonon scattering. 4) Pair distribution function analysis shows localized symmetry breakdown in the cubic Cu 1.85 Ag 0.15 (Sn 0.88 Ga 0.1 Na 0.02 )Se 3 . This work provides a standpoint to design promising thermoelectric materials by synergistically manipulating crystal symmetry and nanoscale defects.

Research Organization:
Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0014520; AC02-06CH11357; AC02-05CH11231; DE‐AC02‐06CH11357; DE‐AC02‐05CH11231
OSTI ID:
1834050
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1825202
Journal Information:
Advanced Energy Materials, Vol. 11, Issue 42; ISSN 1614-6832
Publisher:
WileyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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