Nano-micro-porous skutterudites with 100% enhancement in ZT for high performance thermoelectricity

RIS ID

121419

Publication Details

Khan, A. U., Kobayashi, K., Tang, D., Yamauchi, Y., Hasegawa, K., Mitome, M., Xue, Y., Jiang, B., Tsuchiya, K., Golberg, D., Bando, Y. & Mori, T. (2017). Nano-micro-porous skutterudites with 100% enhancement in ZT for high performance thermoelectricity. Nano Energy, 31 152-159.

Abstract

Increasing energy demands require new materials, e.g., thermoelectrics, for efficient energy conversion of fossil fuels. However, their low figure of merit (ZT) limits widespread applications. Nanostructuring has been an effective way of lowering the thermal conductivity. However, grain growth at elevated temperature is still a big concern, for otherwise expected to be long-lasting thermoelectric generators. Here, we report a porous architecture containing nano- to micrometer size irregularly shaped and randomly oriented pores, scattering a wide spectrum of phonons without employing the conventional rattling phenomenon. Lattice thermal conductivity reaches the phonon glass limit. This design yields > 100% enhancement in ZT, as compared to the pristine sample. An unprecedented and very promising ZT of 1.6 is obtained for Co23.4Sb69.1Si1.5Te6.0 alloy, by far the highest ZT ever reported for un-filled skutterudites, with further benefits, i.e. rare-earth-free and improved oxidation resistance enabling simple processing.

Please refer to publisher version or contact your library.

Share

COinS
 

Link to publisher version (DOI)

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2016.11.016