• Acta Physica Sinica
  • Vol. 68, Issue 11, 117201-1 (2019)
Guo-Cai Yuan1, Xi Chen2, Yu-Yang Huang2, Jun-Xi Mao1, Jin-Qiu Yu1, Xiao-Bo Lei1, and Qin-Yong Zhang1、2、*
Author Affiliations
  • 1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, China
  • 2Xihua Honor College, Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, China
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    DOI: 10.7498/aps.68.20190247 Cite this Article
    Guo-Cai Yuan, Xi Chen, Yu-Yang Huang, Jun-Xi Mao, Jin-Qiu Yu, Xiao-Bo Lei, Qin-Yong Zhang. Comparative study of thermoelectric properties of Mg2Si0.3Sn0.7 doped by Ag or Li [J]. Acta Physica Sinica, 2019, 68(11): 117201-1 Copy Citation Text show less

    Abstract

    In recent decades, Mg2(Si, Sn) solid solutions have long been considered as one of the most important classes of eco-friendly thermoelectric materials. The thermoelectric performance of Mg2(Si, Sn) solid solutions with outstanding characteristics of low-price, non-toxicity, earth-abundant and low-density has been widely studied. The n-type Mg2(Si, Sn) solid solutions have achieved the dimensionless thermoelectric figure of merit ZT ~1.4 through Bi/Sb doping and convergence of conduction bands. However, the thermoelectric performances for p-type Mg2(Si, Sn) solid solutions are mainly improved by optimizing the carrier concentration. In this work, the thermoelectric properties for p-type Mg2Si0.3Sn0.7 are investigated and compared with those for different p-type dopant Ag or Li. The homogeneous Mg2Si0.3Sn0.7 with Ag or Li doping is synthesized by two-step solid-state reaction method at temperatures of 873 K and 973 K for 24 h, respectively. The transport parameters and the thermoelectric properties are measured at temperatures ranging from room temperature to 773 K for Mg2(1–x)Ag2xSi0.3Sn0.7 (x = 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05) and Mg2(1–y)Li2ySi0.3Sn0.7 (y = 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08) samples. The influences of different dopants on solid solubility, microstructure, carrier concentration, electrical properties and thermal transport are also investigated. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images show that the solid solubility for Ag and for Li are x = 0.03 and y = 0.06, respectively. Based on the assumption of single parabolic band model, the value of effective mass ~1.2m0 of p-type Mg2(1–x)Ag2xSi0.3Sn0.7 and Mg2(1–y)Li2ySi0.3Sn0.7 are similar to that reported in the literature. The comparative results demonstrate that the maximum carrier concentration for Ag doping and for Li doping are 4.64×1019 cm–3 for x = 0.01 and 15.1×1019 cm–3 for y = 0.08 at room temperature, respectively; the Li element has higher solid solubility in Mg2(Si, Sn), which leads to higher carrier concentration and power factor PF ~1.62×10–3${\rm W}\cdot{\rm m^{–1}}\cdot{\rm K^{–2}}$ in Li doped samples; the higher carrier concentration of Li doped samples effectively suppresses the bipolar effect; the maximum of ZT ~0.54 for Mg1.92Li0.08Si0.3Sn0.7 is 58% higher than that of Mg1.9Ag0.1Si0.3Sn0.7 samples. The lattice thermal conductivity of Li or Ag doped sample decreases obviously due to the stronger mass and strain field fluctuations in phonon transport.
    Guo-Cai Yuan, Xi Chen, Yu-Yang Huang, Jun-Xi Mao, Jin-Qiu Yu, Xiao-Bo Lei, Qin-Yong Zhang. Comparative study of thermoelectric properties of Mg2Si0.3Sn0.7 doped by Ag or Li [J]. Acta Physica Sinica, 2019, 68(11): 117201-1
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