Higher thermoelectric performance of Zintl phases (Eu 0.5 Yb 0.5 ) 1−x Ca x Mg 2 Bi 2 by band engineering and strain fluctuation
Abstract
The search for high-efficiency thermoelectric materials encompasses many classes of semiconductors. Zintl phases are attractive thermoelectric materials for thermoelectric applications. Here, we report the high thermoelectric performance of the rarely studied bismuth (Bi)-based Zintl phases (Eu 0.5 Yb 0.5 ) 1−x Ca x Mg 2 Bi 2 with the record figure-of-merit ZT as high as 1.3 at 873 K. This ZT value is, to our knowledge, the highest ever reported in CaAl 2 Si 2 -based structures, especially compared with the best antimony (Sb)-based YbZn 0.4 Cd 1.6 Sb 2 compound. Because Sb-based Zintl compounds have been studied for many decades, this Bi-based Zintl phase with high thermoelectric properties could be a good thermoelectric material candidate in the future.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jul 06, 2016
- Source ID
- 10.1073/pnas.1608794113
Entities
People
- Chao Wang
- Ching-Wu Chu
- Huiyuan Geng
- Jiehe Sui
- Jiming Bao
- Jing Shuai
- Yucheng Lan
- Zhifeng Ren
- Zhuan Zhu
- Zihang Liu
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Harbin Institute of Technology
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Morgan State University
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- United States Department of Energy
- University of Houston