Issue 6, 2016

Enhanced thermoelectric performance in p-type polycrystalline SnSe benefiting from texture modulation

Abstract

Tin selenide (SnSe) compound has attracted much attention due to its unprecedented high ZT (∼2.6) in single crystals. The polycrystalline SnSe materials were then prepared to improve the mechanical performance for large-scaled application. However, the ZT values of 0.3–0.8 were much lower due to their poor electrical properties. In the present study, the zone melting method is employed to prepare the polycrystalline SnSe samples, which show highly textured structures and strong anisotropic thermoelectric performance. A maximum power factor (S2σ) of 9.8 μW cm−1 K−2 was obtained in the polycrystalline samples, which is comparable with that of SnSe single crystals, resulting in a peak ZT of 0.92 at 873 K. The zone-melted ingot was then pulverized into powders and the bulk material was prepared by the spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique. As a result, the ZT value was enhanced to be over 1.0, owing to the slight reduction of lattice thermal conductivity and maintenance of electrical performance. The present investigation indicates that the TE performance of the SnSe compound can be significantly improved by the texture modulation.

Graphical abstract: Enhanced thermoelectric performance in p-type polycrystalline SnSe benefiting from texture modulation

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
04 Nov 2015
Accepted
04 Jan 2016
First published
05 Jan 2016

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 1201-1207

Author version available

Enhanced thermoelectric performance in p-type polycrystalline SnSe benefiting from texture modulation

Y. Fu, J. Xu, G. Liu, J. Yang, X. Tan, Z. Liu, H. Qin, H. Shao, H. Jiang, B. Liang and J. Jiang, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016, 4, 1201 DOI: 10.1039/C5TC03652F

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