Issue 12, 2023

Cryogenic thermoelectric enhancements in SbCl3-doped porous Bi0.85Sb0.15 alloys

Abstract

In this work, porous Bi0.85Sb0.15/x vol% SbCl3 (x = 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2) materials were prepared by melt-spinning combined with hot pressing and annealing, and the effects of SbCl3 doping as well as the porous structure on their cryogenic thermoelectric performance were investigated. It is found that the nano/microscale porous structure is formed due to SbCl3 sublimation during annealing, and meanwhile a small amount of SbCl3 is doped into the Bi0.85Sb0.15 matrix simultaneously. The carrier concentration is reduced as a consequence of Cl doping, leading to a well-maintained PF (66 μW cm−1 K−2) and a 27% reduction in κele + κbip. A low κL of 0.71 W m−1 K−1 is obtained for the intense phonon scattering due to the porous structure. Thus, the maximum ZT value of 0.45 at 180 K is achieved for the Bi0.85Sb0.15/1 vol% SbCl3 sample, and is increased by 45% compared with that of the Bi0.85Sb0.15 matrix. Under an external magnetic field, the enhancement of S compensates for the decrease in the electrical conductivity, resulting in an unchanged PF. With the suppression of κele + κbip by the magnetic field and the reduction of κL by the porous structure, a low κtot of 1.56 W m−1 K−1 under 1 T is obtained. Finally, the maximum ZT value of 0.64 at 220 K under 1 T is achieved for the Bi0.85Sb0.15/1 vol% SbCl3 sample, and is increased by 106% compared with that of the Bi0.85Sb0.15 matrix. This work demonstrates that SbCl3 doping combined with a porous structure can synergistically regulate the electronic and thermal transport properties of the Bi0.85Sb0.15 alloy, and can further promote its cryogenic thermoelectric performance.

Graphical abstract: Cryogenic thermoelectric enhancements in SbCl3-doped porous Bi0.85Sb0.15 alloys

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
02 Jan 2023
Accepted
24 Feb 2023
First published
24 Feb 2023

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2023,11, 4056-4069

Cryogenic thermoelectric enhancements in SbCl3-doped porous Bi0.85Sb0.15 alloys

J. Wang, F. Luo, C. Zhu, J. Wang, X. He, Y. Zhang, H. Liu and Z. Sun, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2023, 11, 4056 DOI: 10.1039/D3TC00020F

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