Ultra-High Thermoelectric Performance in Bulk BiSbTe/Amorphous Boron Composites with Nano-Defect Architectures

Authors

Guangsai Yang, University of WollongongFollow
Ranming Niu
Lina Sang, University of WollongongFollow
Xiaozhou Liao
David R. G Mitchell, University of WollongongFollow
Ning Ye
Jun Pei
Jing Li
Xiaolin Wang, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

145724

Publication Details

Yang, G., Niu, R., Sang, L., Liao, X., Mitchell, D., Ye, N., Pei, J., Li, J. & Wang, X. (2020). Ultra-High Thermoelectric Performance in Bulk BiSbTe/Amorphous Boron Composites with Nano-Defect Architectures. Advanced Energy Materials,

Abstract

© 2020 Wiley-VCH GmbH Based on the Seebeck and Peltier effects, state-of-the-art bismuth telluride-based thermoelectric materials, which are capable of direct and reversible conversion of thermal to electrical energy, have great potential in energy harvesting and solid-state refrigerators. However, their widespread use is limited by their low conversion efficiency, which is determined by the dimensionless figure-of-merit (ZT). Significant enhancement of ZT is a great challenge owing to the common interdependence of electrical and thermal conductivity. Here, it is demonstrated that by incorporating nanoamorphous boron into the p-type Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3, a record high ZT of 1.6 at 375 K is achieved. It is shown that a high density of nanostructures and dislocations due to the incorporation of the boron inclusions, leads to a significant reduction of thermal conductivity and improved charge transport. The findings represent an important step to further promote the development of thermoelectric technology and its widespread application in solid-state refrigeration and power generation from waste heat.