Dispersion of InSb nanoinclusions in Cu3SbS4 for improved stability and thermoelectric efficiency

Theja, V. C.S., Karthikeyan, V. , Assi, D. S., Huang, H., Shek, C.-H. and Roy, V. A.L. (2023) Dispersion of InSb nanoinclusions in Cu3SbS4 for improved stability and thermoelectric efficiency. Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research, 4(11), 2300125. (doi: 10.1002/aesr.202300125)

Abstract

Thermoelectric-based waste heat recovery requires efficient materials to replace conventional non-eco-friendly Te- and Pb-based commercial devices. Ternary copper chalcogenide-based famatinite (Cu3SbS4) compound is one of the practical substitutes for traditional thermoelectric materials. However, the pristine Cu3SbS4 inherits poor structural complexion, large thermal conductivity, and low power conversion efficiency. To develop high-efficiency Cu3SbS4, InSb nanoinclusions are incorporated via high-energy ball milling followed by the hot-press densification method. Incorporating InSb nanoinclusions to lower thermal conductivity via phonon scattering while increasing the thermopower via a carrier energy filtering process. The thermoelectric performance (ZT) of ≈0.4 at 623 K is obtained in Cu3SbS4-3 mol% InSb nanocomposite, which is ≈140% higher than pure Cu3SbS4. Both mechanical and thermal stability are improved by grain boundary hardening and dispersion strengthening. Thus, a facile nanostructured Cu3SbS4 with added InSb nanoinclusions is delivered as a highly efficient, eco-friendly, structurally-, thermally-, and mechanically-stable material for next-generation thermoelectric generators.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The authors acknowledge the support from the Research GrantsCouncil of Hong Kong SAR under the Theme-based Research Scheme(T42-103/16-N).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Assi, Dani and Vellaisamy, Professor Roy and Karthikeyan, Dr Vaithinathan and Huang, Hongli
• Authors: Theja, V. C.S., Karthikeyan, V., Assi, D. S., Huang, H., Shek, C.-H., and Roy, V. A.L.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering; College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering
• Journal Name: Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 2699-9412
• ISSN (Online): 2699-9412
• Published Online: 08 September 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright: © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research 4(11): 2300125
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence