Open AccessNanoporous PbSe–SiO 2 Thermoelectric Composites
Author(s) -
Wu ChaoFeng,
Wei TianRan,
Sun FuHua,
Li JingFeng
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
advanced science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.388
H-Index - 100
ISSN - 2198-3844
DOI - 10.1002/advs.201700199
Subject(s) - materials science , nanoporous , spark plasma sintering , thermoelectric effect , grain boundary , nanopore , thermal conductivity , composite material , scattering , thermoelectric materials , ternary operation , sintering , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , microstructure , optics , thermodynamics , physics , engineering , computer science , programming language
Nanoporous architecture has long been predicted theoretically for its proficiency in suppressing thermal conduction, but less concerned as a practical approach for better thermoelectric materials hitherto probably due to its technical challenges. This article demonstrates a study on nanoporous PbSe–SiO 2 composites fabricated by a facile method of mechanical alloying assisted by subsequent wet‐milling and then spark plasma sintering. Owing to the formation of random nanopores and additional interface scattering, the lattice thermal conductivity is limited to a value as low as 0.56 W m −1 K −1 at above 600 K, almost the same low level achieved by introducing nanoscale precipitates. Besides, the room‐temperature electrical transport is found to be dominated by the grain‐boundary potential barrier scattering, whose effect fades away with increasing temperatures. Consequently, a maximum ZT of 1.15 at 823 K is achieved in the PbSe + 0.7 vol% SiO 2 composition with >20% increase in average ZT , indicating the great potential of nanoporous structuring toward high thermoelectric conversion efficiency.