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BiSbTe‐Based Nanocomposites with High ZT : The Effect of SiC Nanodispersion on Thermoelectric Properties
Author(s) -
Li Jianhui,
Tan Qing,
Li JingFeng,
Liu DaWei,
Li Fu,
Li ZongYue,
Zou Minmin,
Wang Ke
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201300146
Subject(s) - materials science , thermoelectric effect , thermoelectric materials , phonon scattering , nanocomposite , seebeck coefficient , thermal conductivity , bismuth telluride , figure of merit , composite material , optoelectronics , nanotechnology , thermodynamics , physics
Abstract Thermoelectric materials have potential applications in energy harvesting and electronic cooling devices, and bismuth antimony telluride (BiSbTe) alloys are the state‐of‐the‐art thermoelectric materials that have been widely used for several decades. It is demonstrated that mixing SiC nanoparticles into the BiSbTe matrix effectively enhances its thermoelectric properties; a high dimensionless figure of merit ( ZT ) value of up to 1.33 at 373 K is obtained in Bi 0.3 Sb 1.7 Te 3 incorporated with only 0.4 vol% SiC nanoparticles. SiC nanoinclusions possessing coherent interfaces with the Bi 0.3 Sb 1.7 Te 3 matrix can increase the Seebeck coefficient while increasing the electrical conductivity, in addition to its effect of reducing lattice thermal conductivity by enhancing phonon scattering. Nano‐SiC dispersion further endows the BiSbTe alloys with better mechanical properties, which are favorable for practical applications and device fabrication.