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Half‐Heusler Thermoelectric Module with High Conversion Efficiency and High Power Density
Author(s) -
Yu Junjie,
Xing Yunfei,
Hu Chaoliang,
Huang Zhijie,
Qiu Qinyi,
Wang Chao,
Xia Kaiyang,
Wang Zhenyi,
Bai Shengqiang,
Zhao Xinbing,
Chen Lidong,
Zhu Tiejun
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced energy materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.08
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1614-6840
pISSN - 1614-6832
DOI - 10.1002/aenm.202000888
Subject(s) - materials science , homogeneity (statistics) , energy conversion efficiency , seebeck coefficient , thermoelectric effect , thermoelectric materials , power density , thermoelectric generator , figure of merit , analytical chemistry (journal) , optoelectronics , thermodynamics , composite material , thermal conductivity , power (physics) , physics , statistics , mathematics , chemistry , chromatography
Half‐Heusler (HH) compounds have shown great potential in waste heat recovery. Among them, p‐type NbFeSb and n‐type ZrNiSn based alloys have exhibited the best thermoelectric (TE) performance. However, TE devices based on NbFeSb‐based HH compounds are rarely studied. In this work, bulk volumes of p‐type (Nb 0.8 Ta 0.2 ) 0.8 Ti 0.2 FeSb and n‐type Hf 0.5 Zr 0.5 NiSn 0.98 Sb 0.02 compounds are successfully prepared with good phase purity, compositional homogeneity, and matchable TE performance. The peak zT s are higher than 1.0 at 973 K for Hf 0.5 Zr 0.5 NiSn 0.98 Sb 0.02 and at 1200 K for (Nb 0.8 Ta 0.2 ) 0.8 Ti 0.2 FeSb. Based on an optimal design by a full‐parameters 3D finite element model, a single stage TE module with 8 n‐p HH couples is assembled. A high conversion efficiency of 8.3% and high power density of 2.11 W cm −2 are obtained when hot and cold side temperatures are 997 and 342 K, respectively. Compared to the previous TE module assembled by the same materials, the conversion efficiency is enhanced by 33%, while the power density is almost the same. Given the excellent mechanical robustness and thermal stability, matchable thermal expansion coefficient and TE properties of NbFeSb and ZrNiSn based HH alloys, this work demonstrates their great promise for power generation with both high conversion efficiency and high power density.